Symmetry in Syntax: Merge, Move and Labels (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 129) - Hardcover

Citko, Barbara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1107005558 ISBN 13: 9781107005556

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2011

Synopsis

While much has been written on asymmetric aspects of sentence structure, symmetric aspects have been largely ignored, or claimed to be non-existent. Does symmetry in syntax exist, and if it does, how do we account for it? Barbara Citko sets out to tackle these questions and offers a unified approach to a number of phenomena that have so far been studied only in isolation. Focusing on three core minimalist mechanisms: merge, move and labeling, she advances a new theory of these mechanisms, by showing that under certain well-defined circumstances merge can create symmetric structures, move can target either of two potentially moveable objects, and labels can be constructed symmetrically from the features of two objects. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students interested in minimalist syntax, the structure of questions, relative clauses, coordination, double object constructions and copular sentences.

About this title

Book Description

Does symmetry in syntax exist, and if it does, how do we account for it? In this book, Barbara Citko sets out to tackle these questions and offers a unified approach to a number of phenomena that have so far been studied only in isolation.

About the Author

Barbara Citko is Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her research includes work on phrase structure, coordination, relative clauses, wh-questions and the syntax of Slavic languages.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1107005558
• ISBN 13: 9781107005556
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 290