Clause Structure

Key Topics in Syntax

by Elly van Gelderen

Clause structure is the most widely-studied phenomenon within syntactic theory, because it refers to how words and phrases are embedded within a sentence, their relationships to each other within a sentence, and ultimately, how sentences are layered and represented in the human brain. This volume presents a clear and up-to-date overview of the Minimalist Program, synthesizes the most important research findings, and explores the major shifts in generative syntax. As an accessible topic book, it includes chapters on framework, the clause in general, and the semantic, grammatical and pragmatic layers. Designed for graduate students and researchers interested in syntactic theory, this book includes a range of examples taken from data acquisition, typology and language change, alongside discussion questions, helpful suggestions for further reading and a useful glossary.

Genres: Linguistics

252 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2013

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for an advanced syntax class. Generative syntax is not my cup of tea, but I appreciated this book for its clarity and good organization. While it doesn't go into much depth, it presents the gamut of syntactic issues with a useful discussion and list of references. The conclusion, however, is unsatisfying. I expected it to really tie things together, but it is as cursory as it could possibly be.