Syntactic Theory and the Structure of English

Andrew Radford’s textbook is written for students with little or no background in syntax, and introduces them to key concepts of Chomsky’s minimalist programme (e.g. merger and movement, checking, economy and greed, split VPs, agreement projections), as well as providing detailed analysis of the syntax of a range of different construction types (e.g. interrogatives, negatives, passives, unaccusatives, complement clauses). Illustrative material is drawn from varieties of English (Standard English, Belfast English, Shakespearean English, Jamaican Creole and Child English). There is a substantial glossary and an extensive integral workbook section at the end of each chapter with helpful hints and model answers, which aim to get students to analyse phrases and sentences for themselves within a minimalist framework.

• Based on 1990s theory of Minimalism programme; other textbooks are based on 1970s and 1980s ideas • Readable and non-technical • An introductory level textbook on Minimalism

Preface; 1. Principles and parameters; 2. Categories and features; 3. Syntactic structure; 4. Empty categories; 5. Checking; 6. Head movement; 7. Operator movement; 8. A movement; 9. VP shells; 10. Agreement projections; Glossary and list of abbreviations; References; Index.