Syntax
Structure, Meaning, and Function

An introduction to syntactic theory and analysis.

Robert D. van Valin (Author), Randy J. LaPolla (Author)

9780521499156, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 December 1997

744 pages, 56 exercises
22.9 x 15.3 x 4.5 cm, 1.162 kg

'A seminal contribution to syntactic theory … will serve as an essential reference for those interested in RRG and other functionally-oriented frameworks and an excellent textbook for more advanced courses in syntax or typology'. Language

This book is an introduction to syntactic theory and analysis which can be used for both introductory and advanced courses in theoretical syntax. Offering an alternative to the standard generative view of the subject, it deals with the major issues in syntax with which all theories are concerned. It presents syntactic phenomena from a wide range of languages and introduces students to the major typological issues that syntactic theories must address. A generous number of exercises is included, which provide practice with the concepts introduced in the text and in addition expose the student to in-depth analysis of data from many languages. Each chapter contains suggestions for further reading which encompass work from many theoretical perspectives. A separate teaching guide is available.

1. The goals of linguistic theory
2. Syntactic structure I: simple clauses and noun phrases
3. Semantic representation I: verbs and arguments
4. Semantic representation II: macroroles, the lexicon and noun phrases
5. Information structure
6. Grammatical relations
7. Linking syntax and semantics in simple sentences
8. Syntactic structure II: complex sentences and noun phrases
9. Linking syntax and semantics in complex sentences
Epilogue: the goals of linguistic theory revisited
Notes
References.

Subject Areas: Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK]