This volume explores how human languages become what they are, why they differ from one another in certain ways but not in others, and why they change in the ways that they do. Given that language is a universal creation of the human mind, the puzzle is why there are different languages at
all: why do we not all speak the same language? Moreover, while there is considerable variation, in some ways grammars do show consistent patterns: why are languages similar in those respects, and why are those particular patterns preferred?
Peter Culicover proposes that the solution to these puzzles is a constructional one. Grammars consist of constructions that carry out the function of expressing universal conceptual structure. While there are in principle many different ways of accomplishing this task, languages are under press to
reduce constructional complexity. The result is that there is constructional change in the direction of less complexity, and grammatical patterns emerge that more efficiently reflect conceptual universals. The volume is divided into three parts: the first establishes the theoretical foundations; the
second explores variation in argument structure, grammatical functions, and A-bar constructions, drawing on data from a variety of languages including English and Plains Cree; and the third examines constructional change, focusing primarily on Germanic. The study ends with observations and
speculations on parameter theory, analogy, the origins of typological patterns, and Greenbergian 'universals'.
Author(s): Peter W. Culicover
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 336
Cover
Language Change, Variation, and Universals: A Constructional Approach
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Part I: Foundations
1: Overview
1.1 The problem
1.2 Constructions
1.2.1 Basics
1.2.2 Constructions are not derivations
1.3 Antecedents
2: Constructions
2.1 Introduction
2.2 What a grammar is for
2.3 A framework for constructions
2.3.1 Representing constructions
2.3.2 Licensing
2.3.3 Linear order
2.4 Appendix: Formalizing constructions
2.4.1 Representations on tiers
2.4.2 Connections between tiers
2.4.3 Licensing via instantiation
3: Universals
3.1 Classical Universal Grammar
3.1.1 Core grammar
3.1.2 Parameters
3.1.3 UG and emerging grammars
3.2 Another conception of universals
3.3 On the notion ‘possible human language’
3.3.1 Possible constructions
3.3.2 An example: Negation
3.3.3 Another example: The imperative
3.4 Against uniformity
4: Learning, complexity, and competition
4.1 Acquiring constructions
4.2 Constructional innovation
4.3 Constructions in competition
4.3.1 Multiple grammars vs. multiple constructions
4.3.2 Defining competition
4.3.3 When do we actually have competition?
4.4 Economy
4.4.1 Representational complexity
4.4.2 Computational complexity
4.4.3 Interpretive complexity
4.5 Simulating competition
4.6 Summary
Part II: Variation
5: Argument structure
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Argument structure constructions (ASCs)
5.2.1 Devices
5.2.2 CS features
5.3 Differential marking
5.3.1 Differential subject marking
5.3.2 Differential object marking
5.4 Modeling differential marking
5.4.1 Acquisition of ASCs
5.4.2 Simulation
5.5 Summary
6: Grammatical functions
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The notion of ‘subject’
6.3 Morphologically rich ASCs
6.3.1 Plains Cree argument structure
6.3.2 Incorporation
6.3.3 Complexity in ASCs
6.4 Split intransitive
6.5 The emergence of grammatical functions
6.6 Summary
7: A′ constructions
7.1 Foundations
7.2 Doing A′ work
7.2.1 Gaps and chains
7.2.2 Relatives
7.2.3 Topicalization
7.3 Scope in situ
7.3.1 Wh-in-situ
7.3.2 In situ in polysynthesis
7.3.3 Other in situ
7.3.4 Cryptoconstructional in situ
7.4 Extensions of A′ constructions
7.5 Toward an A′ constructional typology
7.6 Summary
Part III: Change
8: Constructional change in Germanic
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Basic clausal constructions of Modern German
8.2.1 Initial position in the clause
8.2.2 Position of the finite verb in the main clause
8.2.3 Position of the verb in a subordinate clause
8.2.4 Position of the verb in questions
8.3 The development of English
8.3.1 The position of the verb
8.3.2 The ‘loss’ of V2 in English
8.3.3 The loss of case marking
8.4 The development of Modern German from Old High German
8.5 Verb clusters
8.6 Conclusion
9: Changes outside of the CCore
9.1 English reflexives
9.1.1 Reflexivity in constructions
9.1.2 Variation and change in reflexive constructions
9.2 Auxiliary do
9.2.1 The emergence of do
9.2.2 The spread of do
9.3 Preposition stranding
9.3.1 Why p-stranding?
9.3.2 P-passive
9.3.3 Coercion
9.4 Conclusion
10: Constructional economy and analogy
10.1 The elements of style
10.2 Analogy
10.2.1 Maximizing economy
10.2.2 Routines
10.2.3 Pure style
10.3 Beyond parameters: Capturing the style
10.3.1 Baker’s Polysynthesis Parameter
10.3.2 Greenberg’s universals
10.3.3 Non-Greenbergian universals
10.4 Summary
11: Recapitulation and prospects
References
Language Index
Author Index
Subject Index
