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Description:
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This is the first book-length study of Welsh syntax in
English using minimalist theory. The central empirical issue
addressed is an analysis of word order and clause structure
in Welsh, within the context of the Principles and
Parameters theory and Welsh as a VSO language. Roberts's
central question: Which values of which parameters of
Universal Grammar determine VSO order? To answer it, he
makes use of parameters whose values are rooted in
considerations of typology and language acquisition. Along
the way, he shows that Chomsky's recent conception of the
Extended Projection Principle is highly relevant, although
it requires a slightly more abstract formulation.^L
^L
Roberts's careful use of parameters, his unique
cross-linguistic coverage between Welsh and Romance
languages, and his reformulation of the Extended Projection
Principle make this book of interest to linguists concerned
with generative theory and comparative syntax.
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