The Syntax of Welsh (Cambridge Syntax Guides) - Softcover

Borsley, Robert D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1107407613 ISBN 13: 9781107407619

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2012

Synopsis

Welsh, like the other Celtic languages, is best known amongst linguists for its verb-initial word order and its use of initial consonant mutations. However it has many more characteristics which are of interest to syntacticians. This book, first published in 2007, provides a concise and accessible overview of the major syntactic phenomena of Welsh. A broad variety of topics are covered, including finite and infinitival clauses, noun phrases, agreement and tense, word order, clause structure, dialect variation, and the language's historical Celtic background. Drawing on work carried out in both Principles and Parameters theory and Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar, it takes contemporary colloquial Welsh as its starting point and draws contrasts with a range of literary and dialectal forms of the language, as well as earlier forms (Middle Welsh) were appropriate. An engaging guide to all that is interesting about Welsh syntax, this book will be welcomed by syntactic theorists, typologists, historical linguists and Celticists alike.

About this title

Review

"This volume is a wonderful addition to linguistic work on Welsh that may serve to draw much-deserved attention to this highly complex and fascinating but little-known language. One of the beauties of the book is that even for readers less interested in the mechanics of syntactic analysis, the descriptive material on the various topics covered lays out interesting and nuanced detail, some of which is rarely or never found elsewhere in print." --Anthropological Linguistics

Book Description

A concise and accessible 2007 overview of the major syntactic characteristics of Welsh, covering topics such as finite and infinitival clauses, noun phrases, agreement and tense, word order, subjects, clause structure, dialect variation, and the language's historical Celtic background. Will be welcomed by syntactic theorists, typologists, historical linguists and Celticists alike.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107407613
• ISBN 13: 9781107407619
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 410