The Discourse Function of Inversion in English / Edition 1

by Betty Birner

Overview

First published in 1997. This dissertation presents a discourse-functional account of English inversion, based on an empirical study of natural language data. The central finding is that inversion is subject to a pragmatic constraint on the information status of its constituents; specifically, the information represented by the preposed constituent must be at least as familiar within the discourse as is that represented by the postposed constituent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815325567
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/01/1996
Series:	Outstanding Dissertations in Linguistics
Pages:	204
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Definition and Preliminary Taxonomy; Chapter 3 Previous Analyses; Chapter 4 The Function of Inversion; Chapter 5 Verbs and Related Issues; Chapter 6 Summary and Conclusions;

Editorial Reviews

A study of discourse-functional constraints on the use of a marked syntactic construction. Argues that inversion in clauses serves an information-packaging function, linking familiar and unfamiliar information in the discourse. Demonstrates a correlation between a well-defined type of giveness and constituent position within a particular syntactic construction and sheds light on the relationship between information status and word order. Of interest to researchers in syntax and discourse. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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