Overview
This book offers reconstructions of various syntactic properties of Proto-Germanic, including verb position in main clauses, the syntax of the wh-system, and the (non-)occurrence of null pronominal subjects and objects. Although previous studies have looked at the lexical and phonological reconstruction of Proto-Germanic, little is currently known about the syntax of the language, and it has even been argued that the reconstruction of syntax is impossible.Dr Walkden uses extensive evidence from the early Germanic languages - Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon, Old Norse, and Gothic - to show that syntactic reconstruction is not only possible but also profitable. He argues that while the reconstruction of syntax differs from lexical-phonological reconstruction due to the so-called 'correspondence problem', this is not insurmountable. In fact, the approach taken in current Minimalist theories, in which syntactic variation is attributed to the properties of lexical items, opens the door for syntactic reconstruction as lexical reconstruction. The book also discusses practical solutions for circumventing the correspondence problem, in particular the use of both distributional properties of lexical items and the phonological forms of such items in order to establish cognacy.The book will be of interest to historical linguists working on syntactic reconstruction and the Germanic languages, from graduate level upwards, as well as to advanced students of syntactic change more generally.
Full Product Details
Author: George Walkden (Lecturer in English Linguistics, Lecturer in English Linguistics, University of Manchester)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Volume: 12
Dimensions:
Width: 15.80cm
, Height: 1.70cm
, Length: 23.60cm
Weight: 0.444kg
ISBN: 9780198783589
ISBN 10: 0198783582
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 08 December 2016
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
A significant empirical study of questions that abound in both synchronic Germanic linguistics and diachronic studies of Germanic inheritance. Diachronica
A significant empirical study of questions that abound in both synchronic Germanic linguistics and diachronic studies of Germanic inheritance. * Diachronica *
Author Information
George Walkden is a Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics & English Language at the University of Manchester. His recently-completed PhD was carried out at the University of Cambridge (Clare College) under the supervision of David Willis. He is also the founding editor of the Historical Syntax online section of the Linguistic Society of America's flagship journal Language.
