Arie Verhagen
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199226702
- eISBN:
- 9780191706646
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199226702.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter argues that solving small grammatical puzzles involves some fundamental decisions on basic assumptions about human language and especially meaning. The work shows that the fact that a ...
More
This chapter argues that solving small grammatical puzzles involves some fundamental decisions on basic assumptions about human language and especially meaning. The work shows that the fact that a particular general view makes it possible to solve a number of more and less classic specific grammatical problems constitutes evidence for the usefulness of this general view. The chapter also describes major theoretical issues on human specialization, common ground and the construal configuration, human and animal communication, and the theory of argumentativity. The roles of argumentation and auxiliary syntax in the balance between objectivity and intersubjectivity are illustrated in Dutch and English. The prospects of adopting a usage-based, constructional approach to grammar are explained.Less
This chapter argues that solving small grammatical puzzles involves some fundamental decisions on basic assumptions about human language and especially meaning. The work shows that the fact that a particular general view makes it possible to solve a number of more and less classic specific grammatical problems constitutes evidence for the usefulness of this general view. The chapter also describes major theoretical issues on human specialization, common ground and the construal configuration, human and animal communication, and the theory of argumentativity. The roles of argumentation and auxiliary syntax in the balance between objectivity and intersubjectivity are illustrated in Dutch and English. The prospects of adopting a usage-based, constructional approach to grammar are explained.
Arie Verhagen
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199226702
- eISBN:
- 9780191706646
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199226702.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book shows that the meaning of grammatical constructions often has more to do with the human cognitive capacity for taking other peoples' points of view than with describing the world. Treating ...
More
This book shows that the meaning of grammatical constructions often has more to do with the human cognitive capacity for taking other peoples' points of view than with describing the world. Treating pragmatics, semantics, and syntax in parallel and integrating insights from linguistics, psychology, and studies in animal behaviour, the book develops a new understanding of linguistic communication. In doing so it shows the continuity between language and animal communication and reveals the nature of human linguistic specialization. The book uses Dutch and English data from a wide variety of sources and considers the contributions of grammar to the coherence of discourse. It argues that important problems in semantics and syntax may be resolved if language is understood as an instrument for exerting influence and coordinating different perspectives. The grammatical phenomena the book discusses include negative expressions, the let alone construction, complementation constructions, and discourse connectives.Less
This book shows that the meaning of grammatical constructions often has more to do with the human cognitive capacity for taking other peoples' points of view than with describing the world. Treating pragmatics, semantics, and syntax in parallel and integrating insights from linguistics, psychology, and studies in animal behaviour, the book develops a new understanding of linguistic communication. In doing so it shows the continuity between language and animal communication and reveals the nature of human linguistic specialization. The book uses Dutch and English data from a wide variety of sources and considers the contributions of grammar to the coherence of discourse. It argues that important problems in semantics and syntax may be resolved if language is understood as an instrument for exerting influence and coordinating different perspectives. The grammatical phenomena the book discusses include negative expressions, the let alone construction, complementation constructions, and discourse connectives.
