This book is written for students of English who are interested in the history of the language and would like to read an accessible but also comprehensive and reasonably detailed introduction. Apart from basic information about language change and the Indo-European background of English, it gives an outline of the major periods of the language (Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English and Late Modern English), with a brief examination of the perspectives of present-day English. Each period chapter provides information about the socio-historical background, the core areas of linguistic structure, discourse, speech acts and genres, and concludes with study questions and exercises.
This introduction to the history of English includes chapters on language change, the Indo-European background of English, and on Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English and Late Modern English.
This textbook, aimed primarily at beginning undergraduates studying for degrees in English, provides an introduction to a range of sociolinguistic theories and the insights they provide for a greater understanding of varieties of English, past and present. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative approaches to sociolinguistic variation, the book provides a systematic overview of such topics as: * 'English' as a social and as a linguistic concept* The relationship between regional and social dialectology, and their application to the study of English* English historical sociolinguistics, from Old English to late Modern English* Sociolinguistics and change in English* Outcomes of contact involving varieties of English* English and language planning* English, sociolinguistics and linguistic theory.The book contains data drawn from studies of English as it is used around the world. Throughout, there is an emphasis on facilitating a deeper understanding of linguistic variation in English and the soc
This groundbreaking undergraduate textbook on modern Standard English grammar is the first to be based on the revolutionary advances of the authors' previous work, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (2002). The analyses defended there are outlined here more briefly, in an engagingly accessible and informal style. Errors of the older tradition of English grammar are noted and corrected, and the excesses of prescriptive usage manuals are firmly rebutted in specially highlighted notes that explain what older authorities have called 'incorrect' and show why those authorities are mistaken. This book is intended for students in colleges or universities who have little or no previous background in grammar, and presupposes no linguistics. It contains exercises, and will provide a basis for introductions to grammar and courses on the structure of English not only in linguistics departments but also in English language and literature departments and schools of education.
Since its first publication in 1991 Liliane Haegeman's Introduction to Government and Binding Theory has become established as the most authoritative introduction to the Principles and Parameters approach to syntactic theory. This new edition has been extensively updated throughout. Major structural changes include new chapters on Functional Heads and Head Movement and on Relativized Minimality. Discussions of a number of topics missing from or not paid due attention in the first edition have been integrated or expanded, for example: the structure of small clauses (in chaprer 2), chain formation (in chapter 6), and reconstruction, multiple movement, wh-absorption, Full Interpretation, and expletive replacement (in chapter 9). The copious exercises have been revised to increase potential for creativty and flexibility of approach. New exericases highlight further controversial issues. In short, this book offers a complete, updated introduction to the current state of Government and Binding Theory, suitable for readers with some basic knowledge of generative linguistics.
In short, this book offers a complete, updated introduction to the current state of Government and Binding Theory, suitable for readers with some basic knowledge of generative linguistics.
PREFACE This teaching aid has grown out from the course Introduction into English Linguistics which I have been teaching at Vytautas Magnus University for
a number of years. Its aim is to present students with a concise and up-to-date ...
This book aims to give an indication of the extent of derivational morphology in English; of how much immanent, internal structure must be presumed for words -- even apparently simplex ones. This is done by showing that three (morpho-)phonological processes which tend to hide surface sound-meaning relationships must be taken into account when constructing a synchronic grammar of Modern English: ablaut, obstruent shift, and vowel shift.
"Stratificational grammar," Journal of English Linguistics 3, 1-7; repr. in Makkai &
Lockwood, 4-11. Barnes, Betsy K. 1980. "The notion of 'dative' in linguistic theory
and the grammar of French," Ling. Inv. IV: 2, 245-92. Baudouin de Courtenay ...
An invaluable guide to the study of English language in an accessible format. Beginning with an introductory chapter on the nature of grammar and on the varieties of English, Sidney Greenbaum moves on to provide an outline description of English grammar.
Beginning with an introductory chapter on the nature of grammar and on the varieties of English, Sidney Greenbaum moves on to provide an outline description of English grammar.