Historical Syntax and Linguistic Theory [Hardcover]

This book of new work by leading international scholars considers developments in the study of diachronic linguistics and linguistic theory, including those concerned with the very definition of language change in the biolinguistic framework, parametric change in a minimalist conception of grammar, the tension between the observed gradual nature of language change and the binary nature of parameters, and whether syntactic change can be triggered internally or requires the external stimuli produced by phonological or morphological change or through language contact. It then tests their value and applicability by examining syntactic change at different times and in a wide range of languages, including German, Chinese, Dutch, Sanskrit, Egyptian, Norwegian, old Italian, Portuguese, English, the Benue-Kwa languages of Niger-Congo, Catalan, Spanish, and old French. The book is divided into three parts devoted to (i) theoretical issues in historical syntax; (ii) external (such as contact and interference) and internal (grammatical) sources of morphosynactic change; and (iii) parameter setting and reanalysis.

1. Change, Relatedness, and Inertia in Historical Syntax,Paola Crisma and Giuseppe Longobardi
Part I: Theoretical Issues in Historical Syntax
2. Linguistic Theory and the Historical Creation of English Reflexives,Edward L. Keenan
3. Spontaneous Syntactic Change,Chris H. Reintges
4. The Return of the Subset Principle,Theresa Biberauer and Ian Roberts
5. Many Small Catastrophes: Gradualism in a Microparametric Perspective,Marit R. Westergaard
Part II: External and Internal Sources of Morphosyntaactic Change
6. Feature Economy in the Linguistic Cycle,Elly van Gelderen
7. Sources of Change in the German Syntax of Negation,Agnes J?ger
8. The Consolidation of Verb-Second in Old High German: What Role did Subject Pronouns Play?,Katrin Axellc.