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1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2023

Daniel Galbraith
Affiliation:
Stanford University, California
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Summary

The introduction presents a general discussion of syntactic theories, contrasting transformational approaches with those that adopt feature-structural representations to show how they provide differing cognitive models of the human language faculty. The three key components of the OLG framework – Linking Theory (LT), Optimality Theory (OT) and Competing Grammars (CG) – are briefly laid out. These are motivated by phenomena that necessitate multiple levels of case, linking between levels that permits mismatches in some grammars, a means of restricting the linking apparatus while still capturing the data, and a cogent account of morphosyntactic variation. One such phenomenon is introduced: case-marking facts in Insular Scandinavian. The dative–nominative Icelandic predicates are contrasted with the Faroese dative–accusative pattern, along with plural number agreement with the object in Icelandic versus non-agreement in Faroese. Next, an overview is presented of the motivation for each theoretical component of OLG, in turn outlining the advantages of LT, OT and the CG hypothesis. The introduction concludes with an outline of the specific empirical findings from surveys conducted on the Faroe Islands and Iceland, including quirky case predicates and passives, followed by an overview of the book’s structure.

Type
Chapter
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Optimal Linking Grammar
A Theory of Morphosyntax
, pp. 1 - 32
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Introduction
  • Daniel Galbraith, Stanford University, California
  • Book: Optimal Linking Grammar
  • Online publication: 20 April 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009030663.001
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  • Introduction
  • Daniel Galbraith, Stanford University, California
  • Book: Optimal Linking Grammar
  • Online publication: 20 April 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009030663.001
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Daniel Galbraith, Stanford University, California
  • Book: Optimal Linking Grammar
  • Online publication: 20 April 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009030663.001
Available formats
×