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Understanding Syntax
This text provides a complete introduction to the syntax of human languages. Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, the book discusses and illustrates all of the major terms and concepts essential to the study of sentence structure. While drawing initial illustrations primarily from
English, the book presents extensive additional material from several dozen other languages. Written in an accessible style with many examples and interactive exercises, this book is the perfect choice for anyone approaching this subject for the first time.
English, the book presents extensive additional material from several dozen other languages. Written in an accessible style with many examples and interactive exercises, this book is the perfect choice for anyone approaching this subject for the first time.
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First published October 2, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 5, 2020
Introductory books are crucial for our first steps into an academical field. This importance lays a heavy load on these books, so only few of them can shine and light our path through the way we really want. I have many of these introductions (in the field of language and linguistics), yet I enjoyed a few. This book, Understanding Syntax, is somewhere in the middle—it's worth reading, yet it's not great.
The reason you should read this book is it defines lots of fundamental concepts you should know about the syntax so that you could embark a journey in this field. The problem is that it is too concise about it—Tallerman could clearly elaborate more in some parts, but she didn't.
Another point is that the book tries not to include definitions that are given under certain schools of thoughts or by different theories. So, you don't get anything on GB, or functionalism. It tries to stay rather basic, so to speak, about it and only conveys the essentials.
The last point, which bothered me so much when I was reading it, is that Tallerman wants to speak cross-linguistically. So you'll encounter a long list of examples from various languages (some of them you've never heard of). I insist that, for an introduction to syntax, being cross-linguistic is not so much of a help—after all, it's not a book on historical linguistics or typology.
In conclusion, I must say, the book can be a reliable companion for your course of syntax, but not a stand-alone guide for it.
The reason you should read this book is it defines lots of fundamental concepts you should know about the syntax so that you could embark a journey in this field. The problem is that it is too concise about it—Tallerman could clearly elaborate more in some parts, but she didn't.
Another point is that the book tries not to include definitions that are given under certain schools of thoughts or by different theories. So, you don't get anything on GB, or functionalism. It tries to stay rather basic, so to speak, about it and only conveys the essentials.
The last point, which bothered me so much when I was reading it, is that Tallerman wants to speak cross-linguistically. So you'll encounter a long list of examples from various languages (some of them you've never heard of). I insist that, for an introduction to syntax, being cross-linguistic is not so much of a help—after all, it's not a book on historical linguistics or typology.
In conclusion, I must say, the book can be a reliable companion for your course of syntax, but not a stand-alone guide for it.
February 4, 2018
Terrible Book. General Organisation of a chapter:
1) Let's learn about concept X
2) Concept X means something, as you can see here
and here (another family of languages)
and here (yet another exotic amazonian language)
3)but concept X doesn't work always, for example you can see here
and here
and here (yet another exotic language) (See 2.3.4 for more)
4) -----------Now try one on your own.----------
5) Now you understand X!
To put it differently, it doesn't give succinct and clear theoretical explanations, followed by few relevant examples for expository purposes. Rather, the zillions of examples are *in and of themselves* the justification and the illustration of a concept.
Unless you already have a grasp over a large number of languages, you must rely on her authority (the provided glosses) to understand the examples -- and this precisely is what amounts to circular reasoning, or let's say very very bad teaching.
Think of your maths teacher introducing the pythagorean theorem by saying that "H^2 = B^2 + P^2
kids. Don't believe me? Here look at this triangle, and this one, and this one. See! Do you See!? "
And because you don't have the time or knowledge to actually measure each of them (just as your inability to independently verify the glosses the book provides) you must simply nod you head in agreement like a dumb dodo.
Can instructors please only offer it to ardent lovers of language typology (who for some strange reason want an introduction to syntax). Please just read Carnie and send a copy to Tallerman too.
1) Let's learn about concept X
2) Concept X means something, as you can see here
and here (another family of languages)
and here (yet another exotic amazonian language)
3)but concept X doesn't work always, for example you can see here
and here
and here (yet another exotic language) (See 2.3.4 for more)
4) -----------Now try one on your own.----------
5) Now you understand X!
To put it differently, it doesn't give succinct and clear theoretical explanations, followed by few relevant examples for expository purposes. Rather, the zillions of examples are *in and of themselves* the justification and the illustration of a concept.
Unless you already have a grasp over a large number of languages, you must rely on her authority (the provided glosses) to understand the examples -- and this precisely is what amounts to circular reasoning, or let's say very very bad teaching.
Think of your maths teacher introducing the pythagorean theorem by saying that "H^2 = B^2 + P^2
kids. Don't believe me? Here look at this triangle, and this one, and this one. See! Do you See!? "
And because you don't have the time or knowledge to actually measure each of them (just as your inability to independently verify the glosses the book provides) you must simply nod you head in agreement like a dumb dodo.
Can instructors please only offer it to ardent lovers of language typology (who for some strange reason want an introduction to syntax). Please just read Carnie and send a copy to Tallerman too.
March 23, 2025
This book is terrible. It never gets to the point, there are way too many examples to the point that I forget what the topic actually is. It goes off topic so often, starts explaining a concept that is not even part of the chapter and then says that it will continue on later in another chapter. I am only on chapter 2 and I am already extremely frustrated. I do not recommend this textbook to anyone trying to learn about syntax in a straightforward and simple way.
September 19, 2022
I can't comment on the exercises at the end of each chapter since I didn't do them, but the main explanatory/instructional parts were really not at all straightforward enough.
Terms should be introduced and then defined completely, instead of describing various phenomena and sprinkling the terms they fall under across multiple paragraphs (and often not offering any terms at all). Caveats to the definitions should also not be delayed, but incorporated into the definition itself. I continued reading despite the poor layout but relied heavily on definitions found on credible web sources (e.g., Oxford Reference, Wikipedia).
As with many text books, the author also didn't seem to state clearly under which theories she was working.
Terms should be introduced and then defined completely, instead of describing various phenomena and sprinkling the terms they fall under across multiple paragraphs (and often not offering any terms at all). Caveats to the definitions should also not be delayed, but incorporated into the definition itself. I continued reading despite the poor layout but relied heavily on definitions found on credible web sources (e.g., Oxford Reference, Wikipedia).
As with many text books, the author also didn't seem to state clearly under which theories she was working.
August 8, 2020
It was a great book. I read it as an introduction and rehearsal work for my MA program in Linguistics at Assiut University. It was such fun and enlightenment that I wanted to read all the books related to linguistics called "Understanding so and so". One of the good things about this book- and really about any book- is the "Further Reading" section at the end of each chapter.
April 17, 2021
It is a great book and I request the author to include Urdu structures in the next edition as well.
August 11, 2022
This was very educational on syntax. I found the latter chapters a little harder to follow but I really do feel I learnt a lot from this. There were many examples from lots of different languages and the content definitely built up in an appropriate way to ease understanding.
A little confusing in parts (but maybe that’s just me!)
A little confusing in parts (but maybe that’s just me!)
May 9, 2012
A good introduction to syntax, the main problem I have is in the organizational structure, which to me seems a little hit and miss. If the book is read straight through, it serves its purpose well, but as a reference book, it is hard to use because topics are not neatly confined to chapters or sections, but are spread across the entirety of the text. Also, I know that a few of the examples in the book are actually ungrammatical, in particular a Chinese example towards the beginning.
September 10, 2016
Building each chapter around progressive, illustrative exercises = great.
General organization of information = barely average. I'm glad I have other resources at hand while reading this.
Assuming that you'll use this book as part of course wherein you'll receive additional materials and guidance, it's a really great resource on account of the exercises and clear explanations. As a stand alone, I can imagine it being difficult to get a bead on the big picture.
General organization of information = barely average. I'm glad I have other resources at hand while reading this.
Assuming that you'll use this book as part of course wherein you'll receive additional materials and guidance, it's a really great resource on account of the exercises and clear explanations. As a stand alone, I can imagine it being difficult to get a bead on the big picture.
March 20, 2016
Reading this book feels so boring. And I actually love reading linguistic material. This book is great when there is a teacher to facilitate the material. Luckily I had an awesome teacher who could summarize an entire chapter with less but clear examples. Reading the chapters and
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews