Subjects and Universal Grammar: An Explanatory Theory (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 113)

Falk, Yehuda N.

ISBN 10: 0521858542 / ISBN 13: 9780521858540

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2006

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Subjects and Universal Grammar: An Explanatory Theory (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 113)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521858542
• ISBN 13: 9780521858540
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The 'subject' of a sentence is a concept that presents great challenges to linguists. Most languages have something which looks like a subject, but subjects differ across languages in their nature and properties, making them an interesting phenomenon for those seeking linguistic universals. This pioneering volume addresses 'subject' nature from a simultaneously formal and typological perspective. Dividing the subject into two distinct grammatical functions, it shows how the nature of these functions explains their respective properties, and argues that the split in properties shown in 'ergative' languages (whereby the subject of intransitive verbs is marked as an object) results from the functions being assigned to different elements of the clause. Drawing on data from a typologically wide variety of languages, including English, Hebrew, Tagalog, Inuit and Acehnese, it explains why, even in the case of very different languages, certain core properties can be found.

Book Description

The 'subject' of a sentence presents great challenges to linguists. This volume takes a fresh approach to subjects, examining them from both a formal and typological perspective. Drawing on data from a wide range of languages, it explains why, even across very different languages, certain core properties can be found.