The Oxford Handbook of Word Classes

This handbook explores the study of word classes, also known as parts of speech or lexical categories, which are essential for linguistic theory and description. It consists of five parts that investigate word classes from different angles, including diversity and unity, categorization, lexical and functional words, hybrid categories, and cross-linguistic case studies. The contributions showcase the importance of word classes for linguistics and highlight ongoing debates and future research avenues.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1136 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This comprehensive handbook delves into the intricate realm of word classes, also referred to as parts of speech or lexical categories. These categories hold paramount significance in linguistic theory and description, encompassing both formal and functional aspects, as well as language-internal analyses and cross-linguistic comparisons. Comprising five distinct parts, this volume explores word classes from various perspectives. The first part delves into fundamental issues such as the diversity and unity of word classes across different languages, the categorization of words at different structural levels, the distinction between lexical and functional words, and the emergence of hybrid categories. Part II examines the treatment of word classes within contemporary linguistic theories, including Cognitive Grammar, Minimalist Syntax, and Lexical Functional Grammar. Part III focuses on individual word classes, ranging from major categories like verbs and nouns to minor ones such as adpositions and ideophones. Part IV presents a series of cross-linguistic case studies, examining word classes in diverse families such as Afroasiatic, Sinitic, Mayan, Austronesian, and in sign languages. The final part of the book discusses word classes from the perspectives of various sub-disciplines within linguistics, including first and second language acquisition, computational and corpus linguistics. Collectively, the contributions in this handbook underscore the indispensable role of word classes in the field of linguistics, while also shedding light on ongoing debates and providing valuable insights for future research endeavors.

Weight: 1906g
Dimension: 253 x 184 x 60 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198852889