Understanding Syntax

by Maggie Tallerman

Overview

Assuming no prior grammatical knowledge, Understanding Syntax explains and illustrates the major concepts, categories and terminology involved in the study of cross-linguistic syntax. Taking a largely theory-neutral and descriptive viewpoint throughout, this book:

• introduces syntactic typology, syntactic description and the major typological categories found in the languages of the world
• clarifies with examples grammatical constructions and relationships between words in a clause, including word classes and their syntactic properties; grammatical relations such as subject and object; case and agreement processes; passives and other valency-changing processes; questions and relative clauses
• features in-text and chapter-end exercises to extend the reader’s knowledge of syntactic concepts and argumentation, drawing on data from over 100 languages
• highlights the principles involved in writing a brief syntactic sketch of language

This sixth edition has been revised to include updated further readings, improved examples and exercises and additional explanations of the most demanding concepts.

Understanding Syntax is an essential textbook for students studying the description of language, cross-linguistic syntax, language typology and linguistic fieldwork, and will be the foundation for all studies of theoretical syntax.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032629544
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/13/2025
Series:	Understanding Language
Edition description:	6th ed.
Pages:	382
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

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

Table of Contents

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

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'Tallerman's strongly comparative approach to introducing the basic concepts of syntax has materialised in a very readable and interesting book...Understanding Syntax is an absolute pleasure to read, thanks to its casual, down-to-earth style. It is user-friendly and accessible, and takes its readers seriously'

Glot International

'Tallerman's Understanding Syntax, now in its third, revised, expanded and improved edition, is ...a very accessible, step-by-step introduction to the scientific study of syntax, which not only presents the major concepts and categories associated with this branch of linguistics but also addresses some more advanced issues...'
LINGUIST List (23.1781)

Editorial Reviews

'Understanding Syntax is an essential resource for any student of syntax. Written in a lively, accessible style, Tallerman uses a great range of examples from across the world’s languages to introduce the most important concepts in the study of grammar in a clear and comprehensive way. This is one of my favourite textbooks – I can’t recommend it highly enough.'

Diane Nelson, University of Leeds, UK

"Understanding Syntax is an essential resource for any student of syntax. Written in a lively, accessible style, Tallerman uses a great range of examples from across the world’s languages to introduce the most important concepts in the study of grammar in a clear and comprehensive way. This is one of my favourite textbooks – I can’t recommend it highly enough."

Diane Nelson, University of Leeds, UK

From the Publisher