LINGUIST List 17.2778

Wed Sep 27 2006

Books: Linguistic Theories: Newmeyer

Editor for this issue: Maria Moreno-Rollins <marialinguistlist.org>

Directory         1.    Jared Wright, Possible and Probable Languages: Newmeyer
Message 1: Possible and Probable Languages: Newmeyer
Date: 26-Sep-2006
From: Jared Wright <jared.wrightoup.com>
Subject: Possible and Probable Languages: Newmeyer


Title: Possible and Probable Languages Subtitle: A Generative Perspective on Linguistic Typology Published: 2005 Publisher: Oxford University Press
                http://www.oup.com/us

Author: Frederick J Newmeyer Hardback: ISBN: 0199274339 Pages: 288 Price: U.K. £ 60.00
Paperback: ISBN: 0199274347 Pages: 288 Price: U.K. £ 22.99
Abstract:

In this important and pioneering book Frederick Newmeyer takes on the question of language variety. He considers why some language types are impossible and why some grammatical features are more common than others. The task of trying to explain typological variation among languages has been mainly undertaken by functionally-oriented linguists. Generative grammarians entering the field of typology in the 1980s put forward the idea that cross-linguistic differences could be explained by linguistic parameters within Universal Grammar, whose operation might vary from language to language. Unfortunately, this way of looking at variation turned out to be much less successful than had been hoped for. Professor Newmeyer's alternative to parameters combines leading ideas from functionalist and formalist approaches which in the past have been considered incompatible. He throws fresh light on language typology and variation, and provides new insights into the principles of UniversalThe book is written in a clear, readable style and will be readily understood by anyone with a couple of years' study of linguistics. It will interest a wide range of scholars and students of language, including typologists, historical linguists, and theorists of every shade.

Readership: Linguists and those in other fields with a strong intrest in linguistic theory (psychologists, philosophers, and those with a general interest in cognitive science)

Contents1. On the Possible and the Probable in Language2. Parameterized Principles3. Parameters, Performance, and the Explanation of Typological Generalizations4. In Defense of the Saussurean View of Grammar5. The Locus of Functional ExplanationAfterwordReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index

Linguistic Field(s): Linguistic Theories
Written In: English (eng )

See this book announcement on our website: http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=21497


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