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Language evolution and syntactic theory / Anna R. Kinsella.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Kinsella, Anna R., author.
- Series:
- Approaches to the evolution of language.
- Approaches to the evolution of language
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Historical linguistics.
- Grammar, Comparative and general--Syntax.
- Grammar, Comparative and general.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (xiv, 222 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).
- Edition:
- 1st ed.
- Other Title:
- Language Evolution & Syntactic Theory
- Place of Publication:
- Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- Language Note:
- English
- Summary:
- Evolution has not typically been recognised by linguists as a constraining factor when developing linguistic theories. This book demonstrates that our theories of language must reflect the fact that language has evolved. It critiques a currently dominant framework in the field of linguistics - the Minimalist Program - by showing how it fails to take evolution into account. It approaches the question of the evolution of human language in a novel way by applying findings from the field of evolutionary biology to language. Key properties associated with typically evolving systems are identified in language, and the shortcomings of the Minimalist Program in its outright rejection of these features are exposed. The book will be of interest to individual researchers and advanced students in linguistics, psychology, biology, anthropology and cognitive science.
- Contents:
- Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; List of figures; List of tables; Preface; List of abbreviations; 1 Constraining our theory of language; 2 Language as a perfect system; 3 Language as an evolvable system; 4 Language as a recursive system; 5 Language as a minimal system; 6 Towards an evolvable theory of syntax; Bibliography; Index
- Notes:
- Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
- Includes bibliography and index.
- ISBN:
- 1-107-20148-9
- 1-282-30319-8
- 9786612303197
- 0-511-59691-X
- 0-511-59376-7
- 0-511-59651-0
- 0-511-59283-3
- 0-511-59569-7
- OCLC:
- 609843031
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