Morphosyntactic change : functional and formal perspectives / Olga Fischer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fischer, Olga, author.

Series:

Oxford surveys in syntax and morphology.

Oxford scholarship online.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Grammar, Comparative and general--Morphosyntax.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

Linguistic change.

Grammar, Comparative and general--Grammaticalization.

Generative grammar.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (397 pages)

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2023.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book presents a critical comparison of the two leading theories of linguistic change. After introducing the aims and methods of historical linguistics, Olga Fischer provides an exposition of the main theories used to describe morphosyntactic change and a full account of the causes and mechanisms by which their leading exponents seek to explain it. She measures the effectiveness of rival theories and methods in different contexts and in the process throws fresh light on the balance of factors influencing linguistic change. Professor Fischer emphazises the unity of form and meaning in the linguistic sign and examines the role played by analogy. She looks at how changes in discourse, lexicon, semantics, pragmatics, and sound interact with changes in morphosyntax, and explores the relationship between external and internal causes of change.

Contents:

Contents; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations and explanation of technical terms; Introduction; Part I: General Issues in Morphosyntactic Change; Part II: Case Studies; References; Name Index; Subject Index

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2007.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and publisher information.

ISBN:

9786610753758

9781383040944

138304094X

9781280753756

1280753757

9780191514821

0191514829

9781429470711

1429470712

OCLC:

476243291