Georgian Syntax
A Study in Relational Grammar

This book provides one of the best and most thorough studies available in English of the syntax of a non-Indo-European language.

Alice C. Harris (Author)

9780521109710, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 April 2009

352 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

Georgian has sometimes been described as a language that is 'totally irregular', where the notions of 'subject', 'object' and 'indirect object' have no relevance. Although it is often cited in work on general linguistics, language universals and language typology, no systematic account of the syntax of this morphologically complex language has been available for Western linguists. Dr Harris's work fills this important need, and indeed her book provides one of the best and most thorough studies available in English of the syntax of a non-Indo-European language. Working in the framework of relational grammar - a framework that is attracting great interest - Dr Harris shows that Georgian does have constructions found in better-known languages, and the study of individual languages to the development of linguistic theory.

Preface
Introduction
1. Syntactic tests for termhood
2. Case marking in series I and II
3. Object camouflage
4. Object raising
5. Causative clause union
6. Version: rules that create indirect objects
7. Passivization
8. Inversion
9. Why pattern is not reducible to pattern B
10. Non-finite verb forms
11. Retired term marking
12. Transitivity
13. Synthetic passives
14. Reflexivization
15. Number agreement
16. The nature of the Georgian verb classes
Epilogue.

Subject Areas: Linguistics [CF]