1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910456307003321

Autore

Dixon Robert M. W

Titolo

Basic linguistic theory [[electronic resource] ] . Volume 1 Methodology / / R.M.W. Dixon

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Oxford ; ; New York, : Oxford University Press, 2010

ISBN

1-299-31351-5

0-19-157144-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (398 p.)

Disciplina

410

Soggetti

Grammar, Comparative and general

Linguistics - Research - Methodology

Linguistics

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Contents; List of tables and figures; How to read this book; Preface; Abbreviations and conventions; 1. Basics; 1.1. What this book is about; 1.2. Linguistics as a branch of natural science; 1.3. Prototypical patterns and variations on them; 1.4. Grammatical labels; 1.5. Limitations of a language; 1.6. Why is each language the way it is?; 1.7. Meaning and its organization in a language; 1.8. A grammar as an integrated system; 1.9. Grammar and meaning; 1.10. The basics of grammar; 1.11. Grammar and lexicon; Sources and notes; 2. Principles to Follow; 2.1. Writing a grammar

2.2. Always go back to the primary sources 2.3. Unfashionable issues; 2.4. Avoid the fashion fads; 2.5. Avoid sloppy terminology; 2.6. How to learn linguistics; Sources and notes; 3. Grammar Overview; 3.1. Basic units: word and clause; 3.2. The clause; 3.3. The two major word classes, Noun and Verb; 3.4. Phrases; 3.5. Clause structure and word classes; 3.6. Adjectives; 3.7. Pronouns, demonstratives, and interrogatives; 3.8. Syntactic specification of space and time; 3.9. Marking of core and peripheral arguments; 3.10. Complement clauses; 3.11. The sentence; 3.12. Negation; 3.13. Morphology

3.14. Derivations 3.15. Non-spatial setting; 3.16. Noun classes and



genders, and classifiers; 3.17. Number systems; 3.18. Definiteness; 3.19. Dependencies between grammatical systems; 3.20. Changing valency; 3.21. Topic and pivot; 3.22. Argument identity: reflexives and reciprocals; 3.23. Comparative constructions; Sources and notes; 4. Analysis, Argumentation, and Explanation; 4.1. What is linguistic analysis?; 4.2. Analyses should be clear and plausible; 4.3. Argumentation needed to justify an analysis; 4.4. Choosing between alternative analyses; 4.5. Different analyses for varying purposes

4.6. Different analyses of similar data 4.7. Intertwining of levels; 4.8. Encountering the unexpected; 4.9. Explanation; Sources and notes; 5. Terminology; 5.1. Grammar and lexicon; 5.2. Morphology; 5.3. Inflection and derivation; 5.4. Clitic, affix, and ad position; 5.5. Morphological types; 5.6. Syntax; 5.7. Markedness; Sources and notes; 6. Doing Typology; 6.1. Requirement for consistent analysis; 6.2. What should be compared; 6.3. Phonological typology; 6.4. Grammatical typology; 6.5. Lexical typology; 6.6. The question of sampling; Sources and notes; 7. Phonology; 7.1. Phonemes

7.2. Consonants 7.3. Vowels; 7.4. Phonotactics and syllables; 7.5. Prosodies; 7.6. Stress; 7.7. Balancing parsimony and clarity; 7.8. Orthography; Sources and notes; 8. Lexicon; 8.1. Organizing the lexicon; 8.2. Constructing a lexicon; 8.3. Structure of the lexicon; 8.3.1. Nouns; 8.3.2. Adjectives; 8.3.3. Verbs; Sources and notes; 9. Field Linguistics; 9.1. The fundamentals; 9.1.1. What is linguistic fieldwork?; 9.1.2. Why do it?; 9.1.3. Poor reasons for doing fieldwork; 9.2. Getting started; 9.2.1. The ethics of fieldwork; 9.2.2. How to choose a language; 9.2.3. Fieldwork locations

9.3. Working in the field

Sommario/riassunto

In Basic Linguistic Theory R. M. W. Dixon provides a new and fundamental characterization of the nature of human languages and a comprehensive guide to their description and analysis. In three clearly written and accessible volumes, he describes how best to go about doing linguistics, the most satisfactory and profitable ways to work, and the pitfalls to avoid. In the first volume he addresses the methodology for recording, analysing, and comparing languages. He argues that grammatical structures and rules should be worked out inductively on the basis of evidence, explaining in detail the steps