Syntax and Variation
Reconciling the Biological and the Social
Editors
| Meertens Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences
| University of Newcastle
The papers in this collection share a common interest in the empirical, theoretical and meta-theoretical aspects of the ‘internal-external’ (‘formal-functional’) debate in linguistic theory. The primary aim of this volume is to initiate cooperation between internationally renowned generative and variationist linguists with a view to developing an innovative and more cohesive approach to syntactic variation. The present volume contains treatments incorporating the analysis of external factors into accounts focusing on the internal linguistic conditioning of syntactic variation and change cross-linguistically. As such, it offers novel approaches to three key areas of current linguistic debate, viz. (1) Methodological practices, (2) Theoretical applications and (3) Modularity. The volume is, therefore, an important achievement for the progress of linguistic theory more generally and it is an even more crucial milestone in the coming-of-age of ‘Socio-Syntax’ as a discipline in its own right.
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory, 265] 2005. vi, 312 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
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Toward an integrated approach to syntactic variation: A retrospective and prospective synopsisLeonie Cornips and Karen P. Corrigan | pp. 1–27
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Part 1: Aspects of modularity
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A modular approach to sociolinguistic variation in syntax: The gerund in Ecuadorian SpanishPieter Muysken | pp. 31–53
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Selective optionality in language developmentAntonella Sorace | pp. 55–80
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Syntactic variation and spoken languageJenny Cheshire | pp. 81–106
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Part 2: Individual speaker variability and methodological innovation
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Idiolectal variation and syntactic theoryAlison Henry | pp. 109–122
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Focus raising: A paradigmatic example of the treatment of syntactic variationJudit Gervain and Gábor Zemplén | pp. 123–145
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Part 3: Syntactic variability, social stratification and real/apparent time
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Variation and the minimalist programDavid Adger and Jennifer Smith | pp. 149–178
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Principles and parameters in changeElly van Gelderen | pp. 179–198
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Morphosyntactic variation and theory: Subject-verb agreement in Acadian FrenchRuth King | pp. 199–229
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Part 4: Syntactic variability across geographical space
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Word order variation in three-verb clusters and the division of labour between generative linguistics and sociolinguisticsSjef Barbiers | pp. 233–264
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The third dimension of person featuresPaola Benincà and Cecilia Poletto | pp. 265–299
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Index | pp. 301–309
“This vital collection launches a badly needed venture into largely uncharted linguistic terrain. It should be read by every researcher concerned with bridging the gap between sociolinguistic and biolinguistic approaches to variation in syntax. [...] It ought to be a catalyst for direct exchange and debate between variationists and theorists.”
Jeffrey K. Parrott, Georgetown University
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Cornips, Leonie
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Lacoste, Véronique & Lisa Green
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2015. Perception, cognition, and linguistic structure: The effect of linguistic modularity and cognitive style on sociolinguistic processing.
Language Variation and Change 27:3 ► pp. 319 ff.
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2019.
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Tagliamonte, Sali A. & R. Harald Baayen
2012. Models, forests, and trees of York English: Was/were variation as a case study for statistical practice.
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Subjects & Metadata
BIC Subject: CF – Linguistics
BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General