A Comparative Syntactic Review of Null-Subject Parameter in English and Izon Languages

Odingowei Kwokwo

ISBN 10: 3668146667 / ISBN 13: 9783668146662

Published by GRIN Verlag Feb 2016, 2016

About this Item

This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Scientific Essay from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, , language: English, abstract: The theory of universal grammar relies heavily on the biolinguistic concept of natural endowment and innate knowledge of the general principles of language. It postulates that all humans are naturally endowed with the general rules and configurations of language and to this extent, all natural languages have similar structural features. The theory of universal grammar as hypothesised by Chomsky and propagated by other linguists however recognizes the existence of language-specific idiosyncratic features that constitute parametric variations among languages. These are the parameters of universal grammar. The most prominent parameters that create distinctions between languages are head directionality, pro-drop or null-subject and wh- parameters. This paper reviews the null-subject parameter in English and juxtaposes its occurrence or non-occurrence in Izon language and its implications for language acquisition. 16 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9783668146662

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Comparative Syntactic Review of Null-Subject Parameter in English and Izon Languages
• Publisher: GRIN Verlag Feb 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3668146667
• ISBN 13: 9783668146662
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 210W x 148H x 2D millimeters 210 millimeters width by 148 millimeters height by 2 millimeters depth
• Weight: 40 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Scientific Essay from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, , language: English, abstract: The theory of universal grammar relies heavily on the biolinguistic concept of natural endowment and innate knowledge of the general principles of language. It postulates that all humans are naturally endowed with the general rules and configurations of language and to this extent, all natural languages have similar structural features. The theory of universal grammar as hypothesised by Chomsky and propagated by other linguists however recognizes the existence of language-specific idiosyncratic features that constitute parametric variations among languages. These are the parameters of universal grammar. The most prominent parameters that create distinctions between languages are head directionality, pro-drop or null-subject and wh- parameters. This paper reviews the null-subject parameter in English and juxtaposes its occurrence or non-occurrence in Izon language and its implications for language acquisition.

About the Author

Odingowei Kwokwo holds a PhD from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He teaches in the Department of English and Literary Studies, Niger Delta University, Nigeria.. His research interests include English Syntax, Comparative Syntax, Morphology, Stylistics and Sociolinguistics