Introduction to Syntactic Theory

Dr Edith A. Moravcsik is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

• Preface; PART I. INTRODUCTION; 1. What is syntactic theory?; PART II. SYNTACTIC THEORY; 2. Parameters of Syntactic Theories; 3. Alternative Analyses of Syntactic Structures; 4. Alternative Analyses of Symbolic Equivalence Relations; 5. Alternative Analyses of Syntactic Variation and Change; 6. Four Current Approaches to Syntax; PART III. CONCLUSION; 7. Explaining Syntactic Theory; References.

Why are there so many theories of syntax? How is it that some scholars talk about syntax in ways that just don't register with us? Edith Moravcsik starts from what is required of theory in any domain of inquiry, and considers how these requirements are met, to differing degrees, by various theories of syntax. She shows how mismatches arise, within syntax and in its relations to other modules, and how they are resolved. This book thus offers great insight into why other linguists think the way they do about syntax. It is even more useful for helping us as readers to understand why we do syntax the way we do." Greville G. Corbett, Distinguished Professor of Linguistics, University of Surrey