16.133, Books: Syntax/Semantics: Borer

Tue Jan 18 14:34:49 UTC 2005

LINGUIST List: Vol-16-133. Tue Jan 18 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.133, Books: Syntax/Semantics: Borer

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1)
Date: 04-Jan-2005
From: Lowri Jones < lowri.jones at oup.com >
Subject: Book: Structuring Sense, Vol 1: Borer 

2)
Date: 04-Jan-2005
From: Lowri Jones < lowri.jones at oup.com >
Subject: Book: Structuring Sense, Vol 2: Borer 

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 09:31:33
From: Lowri Jones < lowri.jones at oup.com >
Subject: Book: Structuring Sense, Vol 1: Borer 

Title: Structuring Sense 
Subtitle: Volume 1: In Name Only 
Publication Year: 2005 
Publisher: Oxford University Press
	   http://www.oup.com/us

Book URL: http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-926390-6 

Author: Hagit Borer, University of Southern California

Hardback: ISBN: 0199263892 Pages: 320 Price: U.K. £ 65.00
Paperback: ISBN: 0199263906 Pages: 320 Price: U.K. £ 25.00

Abstract:

Structuring Sense explores the difference between words however defined and
structures however constructed. It sets out to demonstrate over three
volumes, of which this is the first, that the explanation of linguistic
competence should be shifted from lexical entry to syntactic structure,
from memory of words to manipulation of rules. Its reformulation of how
grammar and lexicon interact has profound implications for linguistic,
philosophical, and psychological theories about human mind and language.

Hagit Borer departs from both language specific constructional approaches
and lexicalist approaches to argue that universal hierarchical structures
determine interpretation, and that language variation emerges from the
morphological and phonological properties of inflectional material.  

In Name Only applies this radical approach to nominal structure.
Integrating research in syntax, semantics, and morphology, the author
argues that nominal structure is based on the syntactic realization of
semantic notions such as classifier, quantity, and reference. In the
process she seeks to do away with lexical ambiguity and type-shifting.
Among the topics she considers are the interpretation of proper names, the
mass-count distinction, the weak-strong interpretation of quantifiers,
partitive and measure phrases, and the structural representation of the
definite article. In the process she explores inter-language variation
through the properties of the morpho-phonological system. The languages
discussed include English, Chinese, Italian, and Hebrew.

"Syntacticians like Borer define the big research questions for the rest of
us. Two provocative and inspiring books." Angelika Kratzer 

"Hagit Borer's two volumes are a truly impressive achievement. She develops
an original and careful theoretical framework, with far-reaching
implications, as she describes. And she applies it in what have
traditionally, and plausibly, been the two major domains of language:
nominals and predication (event structure). The application is deeply
informed and scrupulously executed, as well as remarkably comprehensive,
covering a wide range of typologically different languages, and with much
new material. No less valuable is her careful critical review of the rich
literature on these topics, drawing from it where appropriate, identifying
problems and developing alternatives within the general framework she has
developed. These are sure to become basic sources for further inquiry into
the fundamental issues she explores with such insight and understanding."
Noam Chomsky 

Linguistic Field(s): Cognitive Science
                     Morphology
                     Philosophy of Language
                     Psycholinguistics
                     Syntax

Subject Language(s): Chinese, Mandarin (CHN)
                     English (ENG)
                     Hebrew (HBR)
                     Italian (ITN)

Written In: English  (ENG)

See this book announcement on our website: 
http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=12911

-------------------------Message 2 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 09:31:31
From: Lowri Jones < lowri.jones at oup.com >
Subject: Book: Structuring Sense, Vol 1: Borer 

-------------------------Message 2 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 09:31:42
From: Lowri Jones < lowri.jones at oup.com >
Subject: Book: Structuring Sense, Vol 2: Borer 

Title: Structuring Sense 
Subtitle: Volume 2: The Normal Course of Events 
Publication Year: 2005 
Publisher: Oxford University Press
	   http://www.oup.com/us

Book URL: http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-926392-2 

Author: Hagit Borer, University of Southern California

Hardback: ISBN: 0199263914 Pages: 424 Price: U.K. £ 65.00
Paperback: ISBN: 0199263922 Pages: 424 Price: U.K. £ 25.00

Abstract:

Structuring Sense explores the difference between words however defined and
structures however constructed. It sets out to demonstrate over three
volumes, of which this is the second, that the explanation of linguistic
competence should be shifted from lexical entry to syntactic structure,
from memory of words to manipulation of rules. Its reformulation of how
grammar and lexicon interact has profound implications for linguistic,
philosophical, and psychological theories about human mind and language.

Hagit Borer departs from both language specific constructional approaches
and lexicalist approaches to argue that universal hierarchical structures
determine interpretation, and that language variation emerges from the
morphological and phonological properties of inflectional material.

The Normal Course of Events applies this radical approach to event
structure. Integrating research results in syntax, semantics, and
morphology, the author shows that argument structure is based on the
syntactic realization of semantic event units. The topics she addresses
include the structure of internal arguments and of telic and atelic
interpretations, accusative and partitive case, perfective and imperfective
marking, the unaccusative-unergative distinction, existential
interpretation and post-verbal subjects, and resultative constructions. The
languages discussed include English, Catalan, Finnish, Hebrew, Czech,
Polish, Russian, and Spanish.

"Syntacticians like Borer define the big research questions for the rest of
us. Two provocative and inspiring books." Angelika Kratzer 

"Hagit Borer's two volumes are a truly impressive achievement. She develops
an original and careful theoretical framework, with far-reaching
implications, as she describes. And she applies it in what have
traditionally, and plausibly, been the two major domains of language:
nominals and predication (event structure). The application is deeply
informed and scrupulously executed, as well as remarkably comprehensive,
covering a wide range of typologically different languages, and with much
new material. No less valuable is her careful critical review of the rich
literature on these topics, drawing from it where appropriate, identifying
problems and developing alternatives within the general framework she has
developed. These are sure to become basic sources for further inquiry into
the fundamental issues she explores with such insight and understanding."
Noam Chomsky 

Linguistic Field(s): Cognitive Science
                     Morphology
                     Philosophy of Language
                     Psycholinguistics
                     Syntax

Subject Language(s): Chinese, Mandarin (CHN)
                     English (ENG)
                     Hebrew (HBR)
                     Italian (ITN)

Written In: English  (ENG)

See this book announcement on our website: 
http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=12912

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LINGUIST List: Vol-16-133	