Descriptive Typology and Linguistic Theory : A Study in the Morphosyntax of Relative Clauses

Ackerman, Farrell; Nikolaeva, Irina

ISBN 10: 157586455X / ISBN 13: 9781575864556

Published by Center for the Study of Language and Inf, 2011

About this Item

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Descriptive Typology and Linguistic Theory : A Study in the Morphosyntax of Relative Clauses
• Publisher: Center for the Study of Language and Inf
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 157586455X
• ISBN 13: 9781575864556
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: As New

About this title

Synopsis

Descriptive grammarians and typologists often encounter unusual constructions or unfamiliar variants of otherwise familiar construction types. Many of these phenomena are puzzling from the perspective of linguistic theories: they neither predict these “anomalies” nor, arguably, provide the tools to describe them insightfully. This book analyzes an unusual type of relative clause found in many related and unrelated languages of Eurasia. While providing a detailed case study of Tundra Nenets, it broadens this inquiry into a detailed typological exploration of this relative clause type. The authors argue that an understanding of this construction requires exploring the (type of) grammar system in which it occurs in order to identify the (set of) independent constructions that motivate its existence. The resulting insights into grammar organization illustrate the usefulness of a construction-theoretic syntax and morphology informed by a developmental systems perspective for the understanding of complex grammatical phenomena.

About the Authors

Farrell Ackerman is professor of linguistics and director of the Human Development Program at the University of California, San Diego.

Irina Nikolaeva is professor of linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and head of the Departments of Linguistics and Languages and Cultures of Africa.