A Theory of Predicates: Volume 76 Contributor(s): Ackerman, Farrell (Author), Webelhuth, Gert (Author) |
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ISBN: 1575860872 ISBN-13: 9781575860879 Publisher: Center for the Study of Language and Informat OUR PRICE: $66.45 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: June 1997 Annotation: When studying linguistics, it is commonplace to find that information packaged into a single word in one language is expressed by several independent words in another language. This observation raises an important question: how can linguistics research represent what is the same among languages while accounting for the obvious differences between them? In this work, two linguists-Farrell Ackerman and Gert Webelhuth-from different theoretical paradigms develop a new general theory of natural language predicates. This theory is capable of addressing a broad range of issues concerning (complex) predicates, many of which remain unresolved in previous theoretical proposals. The book focuses on cross-linguistically recurring patterns of predicate formation. It also provides a detailed implementation of Ackerman and Webelhuth's theory for German tense-aspect, passive, causative, and verb-particle predicates. In addition, a discussion of the extension of these representative analyses to the same predicate construction in other languages is presented. Beyond providing a formalism for the analysis of language-particular predicates, the authors demonstrate how the basic theoretical mechanism they develop can be employed to explain universal tendencies of predicate formation. |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics - Semantics - Language Arts & Disciplines | Grammar & Punctuation |
Dewey: 415 |
LCCN: 97028186 |
Series: Lecture Notes |
Physical Information: 1.06" H x 6.36" W x 9.24" (1.63 lbs) 500 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: When studying linguistics, it is commonplace to find that information packaged into a single word in one language is expressed by several independent words in another language. This observation raises an important question: how can linguistics research represent what is the same among languages while accounting for the obvious differences between them? In this work, two linguists-Farrell Ackerman and Gert Webelhuth-from different theoretical paradigms develop a new general theory of natural language predicates. This theory is capable of addressing a broad range of issues concerning (complex) predicates, many of which remain unresolved in previous theoretical proposals. The book focuses on cross-linguistically recurring patterns of predicate formation. It also provides a detailed implementation of Ackerman and Webelhuth's theory for German tense-aspect, passive, causative, and verb-particle predicates. In addition, a discussion of the extension of these representative analyses to the same predicate construction in other languages is presented. Beyond providing a formalism for the analysis of language-particular predicates, the authors demonstrate how the basic theoretical mechanism they develop can be employed to explain universal tendencies of predicate formation. |
Contributor Bio(s): Ackerman, Farrell: - Farrell Ackerman is professor of linguistics and director of the Human Development Program at the University of California, San Diego. |