The Syntax of Imperatives

Using compelling empirical evidence, this cutting-edge study presents a new linguistic theory of imperatives.

Asier Alcázar (Author), Mario Saltarelli (Author)

9781009342445, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 December 2022

235 pages, 9 b/w illus. 11 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.348 kg

'This book opens a so far unexplored space: the context-sensitivity of narrow syntax. It successfully shows that the syntactic formalization of notions such as Speaker and Addressee are necessary to provide a deeper understanding of the nature of grammar. The authors draw a fascinating picture of how a syntactic theory can incorporate and represent indexicality.' Alessandra Giorgi, Ca' Foscari University, Italy

The imperative clause is one of three major sentence types that have been found to be universal across the languages of the world. Compared to declaratives and interrogatives, the imperative type has received diverse analyses in the literature. This cutting-edge study puts forward a new linguistic theory of imperatives, arguing that categories of the speech act, specifically Speaker and Addressee, are conceptually necessary for an adequate syntactic account. The book offers compelling empirical and descriptive evidence by surveying new typological data in critical assessment of competing hypotheses towards an indexical syntax of human language. An engaging read for students and researchers interested in linguistics, philosophy and the syntax of language.

1. Introduction
2. Imperatives across languages
3. Foundations for an analysis of the imperative clause
4. The syntax of imperative clauses: a performative hypothesis
5. Basque allocutive agreement
6. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK], Linguistics [CF]