Basic Linguistic Theory Volume 3: Further Grammatical Topics
Basic Linguistic Theory provides a fundamental characterization of the nature of human languages and a comprehensive guide to their description and analysis. In crystal-clear prose, R. M. W. Dixon describes how to go about doing linguistics. He show how grammatical structures and rules may be worked out on the basis of inductive generalisations, and explains the steps by which an attested grammar and lexicon can built up from observed utterances. He describes how the grammars and vocabulary of one language may be compared to others of the same or different families, explains the methods involved in cross-linguistic parametric analyses, and shows how to interpret the results. Volume 3 introduces and examines key grammatical topics, each from a cross-linguistic perspective. The subjects include number systems, negation, reflexives and reciprocals, passives, causatives, comparative constructions, and questions. The final chapter discusses the relation between linguistic explanation and the culture and world-view of the linguist and speakers of the language he or she is describing. The book ends with a guide to sources, a consideration of the number of languages in the world, a glossary, and indexes of authors, languages, and subjects covering all three volumes. Volume 1 addresses the methodology for recording, analysing, and comparing languages and includes chapters on analysis, typology, phonology, the lexicon, and field linguistics. Volume 2, like the present work, considers underlying principles of grammatical organization, and has chapters devoted to the word, nouns and verbs, adjectives, transitivity, copula constructions, pronouns and demonstratives, possession, relative clauses and complementation. Basic Linguistic Theory is the triumphant outcome of a lifetime's thinking about every aspect and manifestation of language. The volumes comprise a one-stop introduction for undergraduate and graduate students of linguistics, as well as for those in neighbouring disciplines, such as psychology and anthropology.
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19 Nonspatial setting
20 Number systems
22 Reflexive and reciprocal constructions
23 Pivots passives and antipassives
26 Comparative constructions
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adjective adposition affix Aikhenvald antipassive AP-O applicative argument applicative construction applicative derivation Australian language auxiliary bound pronoun canonical causative construction causee Chapter clitic comparative construction complement clause constituent content questions contrast copula core argument dative discussion Dixon dual Dyirbal English example extended transitive Fijian free pronoun illustrated indicates inflection instance interrogative words intransitive involves irrealis Jarawara John Koasati lexemes lexical number linguistic Locative main clause marker marking Mary meaning modality mood morphological process negation negative imperative non-spatial setting noun class number of languages number system number words original Papuan language Parameter particle passive paucal peripheral argument peripheral function pivot plural polar question predicate prefix preposition pronominal Quechua reciprocal construction reciprocal pronoun reduplication reference reflexive and reciprocal reflexive pronoun reflexive/reciprocal semantic sentence serial verb construction shown similar singular slot someone speaker specific suffix syntactic tense transitive clause transitive verb underlying verbal derivation Warrgamay Yidiñ