The Syntax of Adjuncts: 96 (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 96)

The Syntax of Adjuncts: 96 (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 96)
by Thomas Ernst (Author)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (20 Dec. 2001)
Language: English
Hardcover: 568 pages
ISBN-10: 052177134X
ISBN-13: 9780521771344
Get this book Contact Email: girro@qq.com

Book Description
This book proposes a theory of the distribution of adverbial adjuncts in a Principles and Parameters framework, claiming that there are few syntactic principles specific to adverbials; rather, for the most part, adverbials adjoin freely to any projection. Adjuncts’ possible hierarchical positions are determined by whether they can receive a proper interpretation, according to their selectional (including scope) requirements and general compositional rules, while linear order is determined by hierarchical position along with a system of directionality principles and morphological weight, both of which apply generally to adjuncts and all other syntactic elements. A wide range of adverbial types is analysed; predicational adverbs (such as manner, and modal adverbs), domain expressions like financially, temporal, frequency, duration and focusing adverbials; participant PPs (e.g. locatives and benefactives); resultative and conditional clauses, and others, taken primarily from English, Chinese, French and Italian, with occasional reference to others (such as German and Japanese).