16.3652, Books: Ling Theories/Semantics/Syntax/Typology: Vermaat

Thu Dec 22 14:44:14 UTC 2005

LINGUIST List: Vol-16-3652. Thu Dec 22 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.3652, Books: Ling Theories/Semantics/Syntax/Typology: Vermaat

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1)
Date: 21-Dec-2005
From: K. van den Heuvel < lot at let.uu.nl >
Subject: The Logic of Variation: Vermaat 

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:42:07
From: K. van den Heuvel < lot at let.uu.nl >
Subject: The Logic of Variation: Vermaat 

Title: The Logic of Variation 
Subtitle: A Cross-Linguistic Account of Wh-Question Formation 
Series Title: LOT Dissertation Series 121  

Publication Year: 2005 
Publisher: Utrecht Institute of Linguistics / LOT Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistic
	   http://www-uilots.let.uu.nl/

Book URL: http://www.lotpublications.nl/index3.html 

Author: Willemijn Vermaat, Utrecht University, UiL OTS

Electronic: ISBN: 9076864896 Pages: 236 Price: U.S. $ free
Paperback: ISBN: 9076864896 Pages: 236 Price: Europe EURO 24.02

Abstract:

Generative linguists and categorial grammarians aim to develop a system of
Universal Grammar to explain structural variation across languages while at
the same time accounting for uniformity in interpretation. The generative
tradition has provided a broad empirical perspective on cross-linguistic
diversity. The type-logical tradition provides logical tools to understand
this diversity in deductive terms. This dissertation aims to establish a
two-way communication between these two perspectives.

This book presents the logic of variation as a system of universal grammar.
Its central claim is that the combination of structural variation and
uniform semantic interpretation in wh-question formation can be accounted
for in terms of three assumptions: (1) Higher-order type assignment:
higher-order type assignment to wh-elements accounts for the uniformity in
the semantic interpretation of wh-questions;  (2) A fixed structural
module: variation in the structural realization is bounded by a restricted
set of structural rules which is claimed to be fixed by Universal Grammar;
consequently, (3) Strong lexicalism:  cross-linguistic variation in
wh-question formation must be entirely reducible to differences in lexical
type-assignment, that is, there are no language-specific structural rules.
Empirical support for this view is provided for by presenting a broad
cross-linguistic analysis of languages that structurally differ in
wh-question formation.

This study will be relevant to linguists in the generative tradition and
mathematical linguists who are concerned with the formal system of natural
language variation and the syntax-semantics interface. The various grammar
fragments discussed in the thesis have been implemented with Grail, Richard
Moot's parser for categorial type logics. The CD-rom accompanying this
thesis allows the reader to further explore the fragments which are
discussed and/or to formulate alternative analyses. 

Linguistic Field(s): Linguistic Theories
                     Semantics
                     Syntax
                     Typology

Subject Language(s): Ati (atk)
                     Bulgarian (bul)
                     Chinese, Mandarin (cmn)
                     Dutch (nld)
                     English (eng)
                     German, Standard (deu)
                     Hindi (hin)
                     Croatian (hrv)

Language Family(ies): Austronesian
                      Indo-European 
                      Japanese Family 
                      Sino-Tibetan 

Written In: English  (eng)

See this book announcement on our website: 
http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=17694

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