Subjects and Universal Grammar: An Explanatory Theory (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 113)

The 'subject' of a sentence is a concept that presents great challenges to linguists. Most languages have something which looks like a subject, but subjects differ across languages in their nature and properties, making them an interesting phenomenon for those seeking linguistic universals. This pioneering volume addresses 'subject' nature from a simultaneously formal and typological perspective. Dividing the subject into two distinct grammatical functions, it shows how the nature of these functions explains their respective properties, and argues that the split in properties shown in 'ergative' languages (whereby the subject of intransitive verbs is marked as an object) results from the functions being assigned to different elements of the clause. Drawing on data from a typologically wide variety of languages, including English, Hebrew, Tagalog, Inuit and Acehnese, it explains why, even in the case of very different languages, certain core properties can be found. Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Preface......Page 15 Notes on the text......Page 18 Abbreviations used in glosses......Page 19 1.1 Overview......Page 23 1.2.1 First approximation......Page 24 1.2.2 Case and subjects......Page 29 1.2.3 Second approximation......Page 34 1.3.2 Subject as structural position......Page 38 1.3.3 Subject as grammatical relation......Page 41 1.3.4 Subject as grammatical function......Page 43 1.4 The formal framework......Page 46 1.5 A look ahead......Page 50 2.1.1 First approximation......Page 52 2.1.2 Argument structure and hierarchies......Page 54 2.1.3 Most prominent argument......Page 58 2.1.4 Mismatches between argument structure and grammatical functions......Page 61 2.1.5 Mapping in mixed-subject languages......Page 66 2.1.6 Further thoughts on argument mapping......Page 68 2.2.1 Introductory remarks......Page 69 2.2.2.1 The nature of null pronouns......Page 71 2.2.2.2 Null pronouns and the relational hierarchy......Page 78 2.2.3 Imperative addressee......Page 81 2.3.1 Anaphoric prominence......Page 82 2.3.2 Switch-reference......Page 88 2.4 Summary......Page 94 3.1.1 The concept......Page 95 3.1.2 Formalization: the Pivot Condition......Page 98 3.2 Uniform subjects and mixed subjects......Page 100 3.3.1 Types of constructions......Page 105 3.3.2 Distinguishing formal constructions......Page 111 3.3.3 Multiple pivots......Page 114 3.4.1 External position......Page 117 3.4.2 Other clause-internal properties......Page 120 3.5 Some morphology......Page 122 3.6 Forthcoming attractions......Page 127 4.1 About long-distance dependencies......Page 128 4.1.1 Functional uncertainty......Page 129 4.1.2 Pivots and non-pivots......Page 132 4.1.3 Matrix subjects......Page 141 4.2 Across-the-board extraction......Page 144 4.3 The that-trace effect......Page 150 4.4 Summary......Page 156 5.1 Overview of the issues......Page 157 5.2 The semantic basis of control......Page 159 5.3 Syntactic types of control......Page 162 5.4.1 General......Page 164 5.4.2 Case study: Tagalog......Page 169 5.4.3 A non-problem in Balinese......Page 174 5.5.1 Non-complement equi......Page 176 5.5.2 Raising......Page 177 5.6 Conclusion......Page 183 6.1 Non-subject languages......Page 185 6.2 The realization of arguments......Page 188 6.3.1 Case study: Acehnese......Page 192 6.3.2 Topic prominence......Page 197 6.3.3.1 General considerations......Page 200 6.3.3.2 Choctaw/Chickasaw......Page 202 6.3.3.3 Warlpiri......Page 209 6.3.3.4 Speculation on morphological ergativity......Page 215 6.4 Conclusion......Page 217 7.1 Other approaches......Page 219 7.2 Typological approach......Page 220 7.3 Functionalism......Page 223 7.4 Inverse mapping and multistratal subjects......Page 225 7.5 Constituent structure approaches......Page 230 7.6 Final thoughts......Page 241 References......Page 244 Language index......Page 253 Author index......Page 255 General index......Page 257 The 'subject' Of Sentence Is A Concept That Presents Great Challenges To Linguists. Most Languages Have Something Which Looks Like A Subject, But Subjects Differ Across Languages In Their Nature And Properties, Making Them An Interesting Phenomena For Those Seeking Linguistic Universals. This Pioneering Volume Takes A New Approach To Subjects, Addressing Their Nature From A Simultaneously Formal And Typological Perspective. Dividing The Subject Into Two Distinct Grammatical Functions, It Shows How The Nature Of The These Functions Explains Their Respective Properties, And Argues That The Split In Properties Shown In 'ergative' Languages (whereby The Subject Of Intransitive Verbs Is Marked Like An Object), Results From The Functions Being Assigned To Different Elements Of The Clause. Drawing On Data From A Typologically Wide Variety Of Languages, And Examining A Range Of Constructions, This Book Explains Why, Even In The Case Of Very Different Languages, Certain Core Properties Can Be Found.--book Jacket. On Subjects And Explanation -- Most Prominent Argument -- Pivot -- Long-distance Dependencies -- Control Constructions -- Universality -- Competing Theories. Yehuda N. Falk. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 222-230) And Indexes. The 'subject' of a sentence presents great challenges to linguists. This volume takes a new approach to subjects, examining them from both a formal and typological perspective. Drawing on data from a wide range of languages, it explains why, even across very different languages, certain core properties can be found