LINGUIST List 9.976

Mon Jun 29 1998

Books: Functional Linguistics

Editor for this issue: Anita Huang <anitalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Bernadette Martinez-Keck, Books on Functional Linguistics

John Benjamins Publishing would like to call your attention to the
following new title in the field of Functional Linguistics:


GRAMMATICAL RELATIONS

A FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE

T. Givon (eds.)

1997 viii, 350 pp. Typological Studies in Language, 35

US/Canada: Cloth: 1 55619 645 8 Price: US$86.00

 Paper: 1 55619 646 6 Price: US$29.95

Rest of the world: Cloth: 90 272 2931 7 Price: Hfl. 165,--

 Paper: 90 272 2932 5 Price: Hfl. 60,--

John Benjamins Publishing web site: http://www.benjamins.com

For further information via e-mail: servicebenjamins.com


This volume presents a functional perspective on grammatical relations
(GRs) without neglecting their structural correlates. Ever since the
1970s, the discussion of GRs by functionally-oriented linguists has
focused primarily on their functional aspects, such as reference,
cognitive accessibility and discourse topicality. With some exceptions,
functionalists have thus ceded the discussion of the structural
correlates of GRs to various formal schools.

Ever since Edward Keenan's pioneering work on subject properties (1975,
1976), it has been apparent that subjecthood and objecthood can only be
described properly by a basket of neither necessary nor sufficient
properties - thus within a framework akin to Rosch's theory of Prototype.
Some GR properties ar functional (reference, topicality, accessibility);
others involve overt coding (word-order, case marking, verb agreement).
Others yet are more abstract, involving control of grammatical processes
(rule-governed behavior).

Building on Keenan's pioneering work, this volume concentrates on the
structural aspects of GRs within a functionalist framework. Following a
theoretical introduction, the papers in the volume deal primarily with
recalcitrant typological issues: The dissociation between overt coding
properties of GRs and their behavior-and-control properties; GRs in
serial verb constructions; GRs in ergative languages; The impact of
clause union and grammaticalization on GRs.

- ------------------------------------------------------------

Bernadette Martinez-Keck Tel: (215) 836-1200

Publicity/Marketing Fax: (215) 836-1204

John Benjamins North America e-mail:berniebenjamins.com

PO Box 27519 

Philadelphia PA 19118-0519 


Check out the John Benjamins web site:

http://www.benjamins.com

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