Mary Dalrymple, Irina NikolaevaCambridge University Press, 6/2/2011EAN 9780521199858, ISBN10: 0521199859Hardcover, 262 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 2 cmLanguage: EnglishIn many languages, the objects of transitive verbs are either marked by grammatical case or agreement on the verb, or they remain unmarked: this is differential object marking. This book is a cross-linguistic study of how differential object marking is affected by information structure, the structuring of the utterance in accordance with the informational value of its elements and contextual factors. Marked objects tend to be associated with old information or information that the sentence is about, while unmarked objects tend to express new information. The book also sheds light on grammatical patterning in languages with differential object marking: in some languages marked and unmarked objects have identical grammatical properties, whereas in other languages marked objects are more active in syntax. Finally, it provides a theory of the historical changes that lead to the emergence of various patterns of differential object marking.1. Introduction2. Syntactic assumptions3. Information structure in grammar4. Syntax and information structure5. Topicality and grammatical marking6. Topical marking of nonsubjects7. Topicality and DOM8. Primary and secondary objecthood and DOM9. Multiple objects and grammatical alignment10. Semantic features, topicality and grammaticalisation11. Conclusion.
Related
Related
Related
Related