Syntax
An Introduction
Volume I
| University of Oregon
This new edition of Syntax: A functional-typological introduction is at many points radically revised. In the previous edition (1984) the author deliberately chose to de-emphasize the more formal aspects of syntactic structure, in favor of a more comprehensive treatment of the semantic and pragmatic correlates of syntactic structure. With hindsight the author now finds the de-emphasis of the formal properties a somewhat regrettable choice, since it creates the false impression that one could somehow be a functionalist without being at the same time a structuralist. To redress the balance, explicit treatment is given to the core formal properties of syntactic constructions, such as constituency and hierarchy (phrase structure), grammatical relations and relational control, clause union, finiteness and governed constructions.
At the same time, the cognitive and communicative underpinning of grammatical universals are further elucidated and underscored, and the interplay between grammar, cognition and neurology is outlined. Also the relevant typological database is expanded, now exploring in greater precision the bounds of syntactic diversity. Lastly, Syntax treats synchronic-typological diversity more explicitly as the dynamic by-product of diachronic development or grammaticalization. In so doing a parallel is drawn between linguistic diversity and diachrony on the one hand and biological diversity and evolution on the other. It is then suggested that — as in biology — synchronic universals of grammar are exercised and instantiated primarily as constraints on development, and are thus merely the apparent by-products of universal constraints on grammaticalization.
At the same time, the cognitive and communicative underpinning of grammatical universals are further elucidated and underscored, and the interplay between grammar, cognition and neurology is outlined. Also the relevant typological database is expanded, now exploring in greater precision the bounds of syntactic diversity. Lastly, Syntax treats synchronic-typological diversity more explicitly as the dynamic by-product of diachronic development or grammaticalization. In so doing a parallel is drawn between linguistic diversity and diachrony on the one hand and biological diversity and evolution on the other. It is then suggested that — as in biology — synchronic universals of grammar are exercised and instantiated primarily as constraints on development, and are thus merely the apparent by-products of universal constraints on grammaticalization.
This title replaces Syntax: A functional-typological introduction. Volume I (1984)
[Not in series, SYN 1] 2001. xviii, 500 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© T. Givón
Table of Contents
-
Preface | p. xv
-
1. The functional approach to language and the typological approach to grammar | p. 1
-
2. The lexicon: Words and morphemes | p. 43
-
3. Simple verbal clauses and argument structure | p. 105
-
4. Grammatical relations and case-marking systems | p. 173
-
5. Word order | p. 233
-
6. Tense, aspect and modality I: Functional organization | p. 285
-
7. Tense, aspect and modality II: Typological organization | p. 337
-
8. Negation | p. 369
-
9 Referential coherence I: Pronouns and grammatical agreement | p. 399
-
10. Referential coherence II: Reference and definiteness | p. 437
-
-
Index | p. 493
“This book is certainly an extremely detailed and thorough examination of language from a functional perspective. The advantages, as I see them, are the detailed typological perspective on phenomena and the sheer range of languages considered. One gets a clear overview of the enormous variation that exists in each restricted area. Especially impressive is the fact that the relative markedness of various options is considered, with frequency data from corpora included. This mixture of detailed syntactic description and a look at actual language use is a trend I for one would like to see more of. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to those who want an in-depth reference work on syntax.”
Jonathan White, Högskolan Dalarna, Sweden in Linguist List Vol-12-2787. Wed Nov 7 2001
“Givón’s book is a very useful introduction to syntax. The new edition has gained a lot in clarity, consistency and accurateness of presentation of the material. Although some features of the book are hardly appropriate for a standard textbook, the abundance of illustrative material from languages of diverse structural types, numerous stimulating and intriguing interpretations of linguistic facts, new universals and interesting ideas - an advantage notices by nearly all the reviewers of the first edition - make it well worth reading, both by experienced professional linguists and by any student of syntax or linguistics in general.”
Leonid Kulikov, University of Nijmegen, in Journal of Linguistics 40, 2004
Cited by
Cited by 71 other publications
No author info given
No author info given
Bak, Thomas H., Despina Yancopoulou, Peter J. Nestor, John H. Xuereb, Maria G. Spillantini, Friedemann Pulvermüller & John R. Hodges
Bentein, Klaas
Bermejo, Víctor Lara
Biberauer, Theresa, Anders Holmberg & Ian Roberts
Borzi, Claudia
Buljan, Gabrijela & Lea Maras
Candalija Reina, José Antonio
Chamoreau, Claudine
Chevalier, Fabienne H.G.
Chini, Marina
Cysouw, Michael
Dahl, Eystein & Krzysztof Stroński
Dobrushina, Nina
Estrada Fernández, Zarina
Gonzáles, Raúl Eduardo & María Belén Carpio
Gonçalves, Sebastião Carlos Leite
Guérois, Rozenn & Koen Bostoen
Halevy, Rivka
Harjunpää, Katariina
Imbert, Caroline & Nathalie Vallée
Iparraguirre, María-Sol
2014. Elementary school students as authors of a description: stages in the learning of writing and linguistic-discursive styles / Alumnos de tercer y séptimo grado de nivel primario como autores de una descripción: etapas en el aprendizaje de la escritura y estilos lingüístico-discursivos.
Infancia y Aprendizaje 37:4 ► pp. 740 ff. 
Jaeger, T. Florian & Harry Tily
Jany, Carmen
Kanta, Mayuree
Khan, Geoffrey
Kohlberger, Martin
Krasnoukhova, Olga, Johan van der Auwera & Mily Crevels
Liljegren, Henrik
Lovestrand, Joseph
Mazzola, Giulia, Bert Cornillie & Malte Rosemeyer
Melis, Ludo & Piet Desmet
Mihas, Elena
Mikel, Labiano
Mithun, Marianne
Moezipour, Farhad
Mora-Bustos, Armando
Müller Blaser, Gabriele
Onyango, Ongâayo Francis
Onyango, Ongâayo Francis
Orqueda, Verónica, Silvana Arriagada & Francisca Toro
Orqueda, Verónica, Silvana Arriagada & Francisca Toro
Overall, Simon E. & Katarzyna I. Wojtylak
Perlman, Marcus, Hannah Little, Bill Thompson & Robin L. Thompson
Peukert, Hagen
Post, Mark W. & Yankee Modi
Queixalós, Francesc
Rezaee, Abbas A., Majid Nemati & Seyyed Ehsan Golparvar
Rivas, Javier & Esther L. Brown
Rodríguez Rosique, Susana
Ross, Bella, Janet Fletcher & Rachel Nordlinger
Schneider, Ulrike
Seržant, Ilja A.
Song, Yoonsang & Ryan K. Y. Lai
Song, Yoonsang & Ryan K. Y. Lai
Tak, Jin-young
Tickoo, Asha
Tröbs, Holger
Uljas, Sami
Vallejos, Rosa
Viti, Carlotta
Токмашев, Денис Михайлович
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 26 april 2022. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
Subjects & Metadata
BIC Subject: CF – Linguistics
BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General