Assuming no prior grammatical knowledge, this book explains and illustrates the major concepts, categories and terminology involved in the study of cross-linguistic syntax. Understanding Syntax is indispensable for students studying the description of language, cross-linguistic syntax, language typology, and linguistic fieldwork.

Maggie Tallerman is Emerita Professor of Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK

List of tables and figures

Note to the instructor

Note to the student

Acknowledgements

List of abbreviations used in examples

1 What is syntax?

2 Words belong to different classes
3 Looking inside sentences
4 Heads and their dependents

5 How do we identify constituents?
6 Relationships within the clause

7 Processes that change grammatical relations

8 Wh-constructions: questions and relative clauses

9 Asking questions about syntax

Sources of data used in examples
Glossary
References
Language index
Subject index