Introduction to Typology: The Unity and Diversity of Language

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SAGE, 1997 - Education - 323 pages
An overview of the major grammatical categories and constructions in the world's languages, Introduction to Typologyprovides a thorough and comprehensive coverage of typology in the areas of morphology and syntax, while underscoring the similarities and differences that underlie the vast array of human languages. Pedagogically sound, this introductory text includes a glossary and highlights and defines each new term as it appears. Each chapter concludes with a summary of new terminology and concepts as well as a list of additional, related readings. Introduction to Typology assumes neither prior knowledge of typology nor extensive background in linguistics, making it useful as a primary or supplementary text for a variety of courses, particularly those dealing with grammatical structure and linguistic universals.
 

Contents

A Brief History of Typology 18 0122
18
Issues of Method and Explanation
30
Basic Categories
54
Constituent Order Universals
79
Determining Basic Constituent Order
96
Morphemes
111
Morphological Typology
127
Encoding Relational and Semantic Properties of Nominals
149
Tense and Aspect
203
Mood and Negation
219
Morphosyntax of Speech Acts
233
Subordination
247
Coordination and Cosubordination
267
Glossary
281
References
293
Index
305

Animacy Definiteness and Gender
170
Valence
183
About the Author 323
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