English Grammar: A function-based introduction. Volume I - Softcover

Givón, T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9027221154 ISBN 13: 9789027221155

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1993

Synopsis

The approach to language and grammar that motivates this book is unabashedly functional; grammar is not just a system of empty rules, it is a means to an end, an instrument for constructing concise coherent communication. In grammar as in music, good expression rides on good form. Figuratively and literally, grammar like musical form must make sense. But for the instrument to serve its purpose, it must first exist; the rules must be real, they can be explicitly described and taught. This book is intended for both students and teachers, at college level, for both native and nonnative speakers. With the guidance of a teacher this book will serve as a thorough introduction to the grammar of English. Volume I begins with words and their meanings, then on to propositions and simple state or event clauses – participant roles, verb types, transitivity, subjects and objects. It then covers the grammatical sub systems commonly found in simple clauses: Verbal inflections, auxiliaries and the grammar of tense-aspect modality and negation; articles determiners, pronouns and the grammar of referential coherence; the variety of noun phrases and noun modifiers.

About this title

Synopsis

The approach to language and grammar that motivates this book is functional: grammar is not just a system of empty rules, it is a means to an end, an instrument for constructing concise coherent communication. This book is intended for both students and teachers, at both high school and college levels, for both native and non-native speakers. With the guidance of a teacher it aims to serve as a thorough introduction to the grammar of English. Volume I begins with words and their meanings, then goes on to propositions and simple state or event clauses, participant roles, verb types, transitivity, subjects and objects. It then covers the grammmatical subsystems commonly found in simple clauses: verbal inflections, auxiliaries and the grammar of tense-aspect modality and negation; articles, determiners, pronouns and the grammar of referential coherence; and the variety of noun phrases and noun modifiers.

Volume II continues with syntactic and communicative complexity; embedded clauses verb complements, relative clauses, detransitive voice passive, anti-passive, impersonal and middle voice, reflexive and reciprocal constructions, focus and topic constructions; and nondeclarative speech acts. It closes with interclausal connectivity: conjoined and subordinate clauses, the grammar of discourse coherence, clause chains and thematic paragraphs.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 9027221154
• ISBN 13: 9789027221155
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 340