Natural Syntax: Iconicity and Erosion (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 44)

John Haiman

ISBN 10: 0521266416 / ISBN 13: 9780521266413

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1985

About this Item

Ancien livre de bibliothèque avec équipements. Sans jaquette. Couverture différente. Edition 1985. Ammareal reverse jusqu'à 15% du prix net de cet article à des organisations caritatives. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Book Condition: Used, Very good. Former library book. No dust jacket. Different cover. Edition 1985. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this item's net price to charity organizations.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Natural Syntax: Iconicity and Erosion (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 44)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521266416
• ISBN 13: 9780521266413
• Binding: No jacket
• Condition: Très bon

About this title

Synopsis

The view that language is in some way 'arbitrary', that there is no formal relationship between a linguistic message and the thought it is meant to convey, is long established and pervasive. The goal of John Haiman's study is to challenge the monopoly of arbitrariness, which he believes has affected in significant ways many models of linguistic description and analysis, notably those proposed by Saussure and more recently by Chomsky and his associates. Linguistic structures, Dr Hainian claims, may be compared to (non-linguistic) diagrams of our thoughts, and deviate from iconicity in many of the same ways and for much the same reasons as do diagrams in general. Arbitrariness develops as a result of the relatively familiar principles of economy, generalization and association. In relation to this thesis, Dr Haiman considers a wide variety of constructions, including conditionals and interrogatives, gapping, causative structures, auxiliaries and reflexives, and provides a wealth of exemplification from different languages that also points to typological differences in respect of iconicity.

Book Description

The goal of John Haiman's study is to challenge the monopoly of arbitrariness, which he believes has affected in significant ways many models of linguistic description and analysis, notably those proposed by Saussure and more recently by Chomsky and his associates.