Syntax of Information-Structural Agreement

Johannes Mursell's research monograph explores the syntactic impact of information-structural features on agreement, arguing that they can influence phi-feature agreement in various languages. It provides a uniform analysis for different constructions and advocates for treating information-structural features as genuine syntactic features.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 22 September 2021
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Co

In this comprehensive research monograph, Johannes Mursell delves into the intricate interplay between information-structural features and syntactic agreement. While previous studies have primarily focused on the movement of topics or the clause-initial position, the author takes a fresh perspective by examining the syntactic influence of these features on agreement. Drawing upon original fieldwork conducted across a diverse range of languages, including Tagalog, Swahili, and Lavukaleve, the author argues that for most areas where information-structural features have been discussed, there exist instances where these features exert a significant impact on phi-feature agreement.

The analysis is then extended to cases of Association with Focus, which, although not involving phi-features, can still be accounted for through the agreement of information-structural features. The book achieves two primary objectives: firstly, it offers a unified analysis for various constructions across unrelated languages, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding these linguistic phenomena. Secondly, it presents a compelling argument that information-structural features should be recognized as genuine syntactic features, contributing to our understanding of language structure and syntax.

Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Johannes Mursell's work sheds light on the complex relationship between information-structural features and syntactic agreement, offering valuable insights into the workings of language. This monograph is a must-read for scholars and researchers interested in the field of linguistics, as it contributes to our understanding of language structure and syntax and expands our knowledge of how language works.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 167 x 249 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789027209139