Edited by Günter Rohdenburg, Julia SchlüterCambridge University Press, 12/16/2010EAN 9780521183963, ISBN10: 0521183960Paperback, 486 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cmLanguage: EnglishIt is well known that British and American English differ substantially in their pronunciation and vocabulary - but differences in their grammar have largely been underestimated. This volume focuses on British–American differences in the structure of words and sentences and supports them with computer-aided studies of large text collections. Present-day as well as earlier forms of the two varieties are included in the analyses. This makes it the first book-length treatment of British and American English grammar in contrast, with topics ranging from compound verbs to word order differences and tag questions. The authors explore some of the better-known contrasts, as well as a great variety of innovative themes that have so far received little or no consideration. Bringing together the work of a team of leading scholars in the field, this book will be of interest to those working within the fields of English historical linguistics, language variation and change, and dialectology.Introduction Günter Rohdenburg and Julia Schlüter1. Colonial lag, colonial innovation or simply language change? Marianne Hundt2. Compound verbs Peter Erdmann3. The formation of the preterite and the past participle Magnus Levin4. Comparatives Britta Mondorf5. Phonology and grammar Julia Schlüter6. Prepositions and postpositions Eva Berlage7. Argument structure David Denison8. Reflexive structures Günter Rohdenburg9. Noun phrase modification Douglas Biber, Jack Grieve and Gina Iberri-Shea10. Nominal complements Günter Rohdenburg11. Non-finite complements Uwe Vosberg12. The present perfect and the preterite Johan Elsness13. The revived subjunctive Göran Kjellmer14. The mandative subjunctive William J. Crawford15. The conditional subjunctive Julia Schlüter16. Tag questions D. J. Allerton17. The pragmatics of adverbs Karin Aijmer18. How different are American and British grammar? And how are they different? Gunnel Tottie19. New departures Günter Rohdenburg and Julia Schlüter.Review of the hardback: '...an important book ...' Journal of English Language & Linguistics
