Inhaltszusammenfassung

This book contains a unique selection of innovative in-depth empirical studies written in a broadly functional framework. In the past, some functional approaches have predominantly centred on universal and pervasive semantic determiners like the iconically motivated distance principle (e.g. Haiman, Givón), and still others have considered semantic factors exclusively (e.g. Wierzbicka). By contrast, this book ? while paying due attention to iconicity and other general semantic tendencies ? is ...This book contains a unique selection of innovative in-depth empirical studies written in a broadly functional framework. In the past, some functional approaches have predominantly centred on universal and pervasive semantic determiners like the iconically motivated distance principle (e.g. Haiman, Givón), and still others have considered semantic factors exclusively (e.g. Wierzbicka). By contrast, this book ? while paying due attention to iconicity and other general semantic tendencies ? is predominantly concerned with the exploration of major extra-semantic and largely neglected factors determining grammatical variation in both present-day English and earlier forms of English (including non-standard varieties). The extra-semantic factors investigated include the following: phonological influences, frequency, information structure, processing efficiency and processing complexity, horror aequi (the avoidance of identity effects), a range of typological principles, and the phenomenon of syntactic persistence. This volume is essential reading for everyone in the field of English grammar and all those interested in how functionalism can be brought to bear in illuminating language structure and use.» weiterlesen» einklappen

Autoren

Klassifikation

DFG Fachgebiet:
Sprachwissenschaften

DDC Sachgruppe:
Englisch