LINGUIST List 12.192

Thu Jan 25 2001

Books: Functional Linguistics

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Paul Peranteau, Functional Linguistics: by Fawcett / by Fischer, Rosenbach & Stein

John Benjamins Publishing announces these two new works in Functional 
Linguistics:

A Theory of Syntax for Systemic Functional Linguistics.
Robin FAWCETT (Cardiff University)
Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 206
US & Canada: 1 55619 732 2 / USD 85.00 (Hardcover)
Rest of world: 90 272 3713 1 / NLG 170.00 (Hardcover)


This book describes and evaluates alternative approaches within
Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to representing the structure of
language at the level of form. It assumes no prior knowledge of SFL,
and can therefore be read as an introduction to current issues within
the theory. It will interest any linguist who takes a functional
approach to understanding language.

Part 1 summarizes the major developments in the forty years of SFL's
history, including alternative approaches within Halliday's own writings
and the emergence of the "Cardiff Grammar" as an alternative to the
"Sydney Grammar". It questions the theoretical status of the 'multiple
structure' representations in Halliday's influential Introduction to
Functional Grammar (1994), demonstrating that Halliday's model
additionally needs an integrating syntax such as that described in Part 2.

Part 2 specifies and discusses the set of 'categories' and
'relationships' that are needed in a theory of syntax for a modern,
computer-implementable systemic functional grammar. The theoretical
concepts are exemplified at every point, usually from English but
occasionally from other languages. The book is both a critique of
Halliday's current theory of syntax and the presentation of an
alternative version of SFL that is equally systemic and equally
functional.


Pathways of Change.
Grammaticalization in English.
Olga FISCHER, Anette ROSENBACH and Dieter STEIN (eds.) (University of 
Amsterdam / Heinrich Heine Universit�t D�sseldorf)
Studies in Language Companion Series
US & Canada: 1 55619 939 2 / USD 105.00 (Hardcover)
Rest of world: 90 272 3056 0 / NLG 210.00 (Hardcover)

There is a continual growth of interest among linguists of
all-theoretical denominations in grammaticalization, a concept central
to many linguistic (change) theories. However, the discussion of
grammaticalization processes has often suffered from a shortage of
concrete empirical studies from one of the best-documented languages
in the world, English. Pathways of Change contains discussion of new
data and provides theoretical lead articles based on these data that
will help sharpen the theoretical aspects involved, such as the
definition and the logical connection of the component processes of
grammaticalization. The volume is concentrated around a number of
themes that are important or controversial in grammaticalization
studies, such as the principle of unidirectionality, the relation
between lexicalization and grammaticalization -- and connected with
these two factors the possibility of degrammaticalization -- the way
iconicity interweaves with grammaticalization processes, and with the
phenomenon of grammaticalization on a synchronic or discourse level,
also often termed subjectifization.

Contributions by: 
Olga Fischer & Anette Rosenbach; Sylvia Adamson; Minoji Akimoto;
Guohua Chen; David Denison; Olga Fischer; Susan Fitzmaurice; Elly van
Gelderen; Roger Lass; Ursula Lenker; Bettelou Los; Robert McColl
Millar; Rafat Molencki; Sali A. Tagliamonte; Ilse Wischer.



			John Benjamins Publishing Co.
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