Explaining Language Universals - Softcover

Hawkins, John

 
9780631174561: Explaining Language Universals
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0631174567 ISBN 13: 9780631174561
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1990

Synopsis

This book addresses one of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about language: how can we explain language universals? There are currently many different views of this question. Some argue for the innateness of general linguistic principles within the human species. Others see a more social foundation to language, with linguistic structure reflecting various communicative functions. Yet others appleal to the psychological demands placed upon language-users in producing and comprehending language in real time. Language is also seen as a reflection of our human perceptual and cognitive apparatus. And there are also more grammar-internal explanations, whereby one part of the grammar (such as some aspect of surface form) is explained by another (such as the semantics of that form).

This book is a state-of-the-art vollume which brings together all of these different views. The contributors have each benn asked to offer some general explanation for which they see evidence, and to provide illustrative universal data supporting it.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

John A. Hawkins is Professor and Chairman of Department in Linguistics at the University of Southern California.

From the Back Cover

This book addresses one of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about language: how can we explain language universals? There are currently many different views of this question. Some argue for the innateness of general linguistic principles within the human species. Others see a more social foundation to language, with linguistic structure reflecting various communicative functions. Yet others appleal to the psychological demands placed upon language-users in producing and comprehending language in real time. Language is also seen as a reflection of our human perceptual and cognitive apparatus. And there are also more grammar-internal explanations, whereby one part of the grammar (such as some aspect of surface form) is explained by another (such as the semantics of that form).

This book is a state-of-the-art vollume which brings together all of these different views. The contributors have each benn asked to offer some general explanation for which they see evidence, and to provide illustrative universal data supporting it.

From the Inside Flap

This book addresses one of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about language: how can we explain language universals? There are currently many different views of this question. Some argue for the innateness of general linguistic principles within the human species. Others see a more social foundation to language, with linguistic structure reflecting various communicative functions. Yet others appleal to the psychological demands placed upon language-users in producing and comprehending language in real time. Language is also seen as a reflection of our human perceptual and cognitive apparatus. And there are also more grammar-internal explanations, whereby one part of the grammar (such as some aspect of surface form) is explained by another (such as the semantics of that form).

This book is a state-of-the-art vollume which brings together all of these different views. The contributors have each benn asked to offer some general explanation for which they see evidence, and to provide illustrative universal data supporting it.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
John Wiley & Sons
Publication date
1990
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0631174567
ISBN 13 
9780631174561
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
1
Number of pages
416

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780631155348: Explaining Language Universals

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0631155341 ISBN 13:  9780631155348
Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell, 1988
Hardcover