Ian G. Roberts Libri

Focusing on the generative approach to linguistics, the book explores its application in understanding language change. It addresses key historical linguistics topics such as word-order change, grammaticalization, and reanalysis. The author, Ian Roberts, connects syntactic change with first-language acquisition and examines language contact effects. The text includes diverse examples from various languages, along with guides for further reading and a comprehensive glossary, making it an excellent resource for students studying syntactic change.

This is a major new textbook on the Principles and Parameters theory of syntax. The goal of the book is to take students from a basic knowledge of syntax up to the point where they are able to read the primary research literature and understand the latest theoretical developments. There is abrief introduction to the minimalist programme, but the intent is to give students enough knowledge of preminimalist theory that they can progress from it to the minimalist literature. In keeping with the emphasis on cross-linguistic research in the PandP framework, many of the main points areillustrated using data from a range of languages.