Language Change, Variation, and Universals

Cover
Language Change, Variation, and Universals: A Constructional Approach
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Part I: Foundations
	1: Overview
		1.1 The problem
		1.2 Constructions
			1.2.1 Basics
			1.2.2 Constructions are not derivations
		1.3 Antecedents
	2: Constructions
		2.1 Introduction
		2.2 What a grammar is for
		2.3 A framework for constructions
			2.3.1 Representing constructions
			2.3.2 Licensing
			2.3.3 Linear order
		2.4 Appendix: Formalizing constructions
			2.4.1 Representations on tiers
			2.4.2 Connections between tiers
			2.4.3 Licensing via instantiation
	3: Universals
		3.1 Classical Universal Grammar
			3.1.1 Core grammar
			3.1.2 Parameters
			3.1.3 UG and emerging grammars
		3.2 Another conception of universals
		3.3 On the notion ‘possible human language’
			3.3.1 Possible constructions
			3.3.2 An example: Negation
			3.3.3 Another example: The imperative
		3.4 Against uniformity
	4: Learning, complexity, and competition
		4.1 Acquiring constructions
		4.2 Constructional innovation
		4.3 Constructions in competition
			4.3.1 Multiple grammars vs. multiple constructions
			4.3.2 Defining competition
			4.3.3 When do we actually have competition?
		4.4 Economy
			4.4.1 Representational complexity
			4.4.2 Computational complexity
			4.4.3 Interpretive complexity
		4.5 Simulating competition
		4.6 Summary
Part II: Variation
	5: Argument structure
		5.1 Introduction
		5.2 Argument structure constructions (ASCs)
			5.2.1 Devices
			5.2.2 CS features
		5.3 Differential marking
			5.3.1 Differential subject marking
			5.3.2 Differential object marking
		5.4 Modeling differential marking
			5.4.1 Acquisition of ASCs
			5.4.2 Simulation
		5.5 Summary
	6: Grammatical functions
		6.1 Introduction
		6.2 The notion of ‘subject’
		6.3 Morphologically rich ASCs
			6.3.1 Plains Cree argument structure
			6.3.2 Incorporation
			6.3.3 Complexity in ASCs
		6.4 Split intransitive
		6.5 The emergence of grammatical functions
		6.6 Summary
	7: A′ constructions
		7.1 Foundations
		7.2 Doing A′ work
			7.2.1 Gaps and chains
			7.2.2 Relatives
			7.2.3 Topicalization
		7.3 Scope in situ
			7.3.1 Wh-in-situ
			7.3.2 In situ in polysynthesis
			7.3.3 Other in situ
			7.3.4 Cryptoconstructional in situ
		7.4 Extensions of A′ constructions
		7.5 Toward an A′ constructional typology
		7.6 Summary
Part III: Change
	8: Constructional change in Germanic
		8.1 Introduction
		8.2 Basic clausal constructions of Modern German
			8.2.1 Initial position in the clause
			8.2.2 Position of the finite verb in the main clause
			8.2.3 Position of the verb in a subordinate clause
			8.2.4 Position of the verb in questions
		8.3 The development of English
			8.3.1 The position of the verb
			8.3.2 The ‘loss’ of V2 in English
			8.3.3 The loss of case marking
		8.4 The development of Modern German from Old High German
		8.5 Verb clusters
		8.6 Conclusion
	9: Changes outside of the CCore
		9.1 English reflexives
			9.1.1 Reflexivity in constructions
			9.1.2 Variation and change in reflexive constructions
		9.2 Auxiliary do
			9.2.1 The emergence of do
			9.2.2 The spread of do
		9.3 Preposition stranding
			9.3.1 Why p-stranding?
			9.3.2 P-passive
			9.3.3 Coercion
		9.4 Conclusion
	10: Constructional economy and analogy
		10.1 The elements of style
		10.2 Analogy
			10.2.1 Maximizing economy
			10.2.2 Routines
			10.2.3 Pure style
		10.3 Beyond parameters: Capturing the style
			10.3.1 Baker’s Polysynthesis Parameter
			10.3.2 Greenberg’s universals
			10.3.3 Non-Greenbergian universals
		10.4 Summary
	11: Recapitulation and prospects
References
Language Index
Author Index
Subject Index