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Word grammar is a theory of language structure and is based on the assumption that language, and indeed the whole of knowledge, is a network, and that virtually all of knowledge is learned. It combines the psychological insights of cognitive linguistics with the rigour of more formal theories. This textbook spans a broad range of topics from prototypes, activation and default inheritance to the details of syntactic, morphological and semantic structure. It introduces elementary ideas from cognitive science and uses them to explain the structure of language including a survey of English grammar.
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This page intentionally left blank An Introduction to Word Grammar Word Grammar is a theory of language structure based on the assumption that language, and indeed the whole of knowledge, is a network, and that virtually all of knowledge is learned. It combines the psychological insights of cognitive linguistics with the rigour of more formal theories. This textbook spans a broad range of topics from prototypes, activation and default inheritance to the details of syntactic, morphological and semantic structure. It introduces elementary ideas from cognitive science and uses them to explain the structure of language including a survey of English grammar. richa rd huds on is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at University College London. His recent publications include Language Networks:€ the New Word Grammar (2007). CAM BRI DGE TEXTBOOKS I N LI NGUI S T I C S General editors: P . A u s t i n, J . B r e s na n, B . C o m r i e , S . C r a i n, W . D r e s s l e r , C. Ewen, R . L as s , D. L i ght f oot, K. R i c e , I . R o b e r t s, S. R o m a i n e , N. V . S mi t h An Introduction to Word Grammar In this series: P. H. Mat t he w s Syntax A . Ra df or d Transformational Syntax L. Baue r English Word-Formation S . C. L e vi ns on Pragmatics G . Brow n and G. YUL E Discourse Analysis R. Hu ddl e s t on Introduction to the Grammar of English R. La s s Phonology B. Co mr i e Tense W. K l e i n Second Language Acquisition A . J. W oods , P . F L E T C HE R and A. HUGH E S Statistics in Language Studies D . A. C r us e Lexical Semantics A . Ra df or d Transformational Grammar M. G ar man Psycholinguistics G . G. C or b e t t Gender H. J. Gi e ge r i c h English Phonology R. Ca nn Formal Semantics J. Lav e r Principles of Phonetics F. R. P al me r Grammatical Roles and Relations M. A . J one s Foundations of French Syntax A . Ra df or d Syntactic Theory and the Structure of English:€A Minimalist Approach R. D. Van Val i n, JR, and R . J . L AP OL L A Syntax:€Structure, Meaning and Function A . Du r ant i Linguistic Anthropology A . Crut t e nde n Intonation Second edition J. K . C hamb e r s and P . T R UDGI L L Dialectology Second edition C. Lyons Definiteness R. Kage r Optimality Theory J. A . Hol m An Introduction to Pidgins and Creoles G . G. C or b e t t Number C. J. E w e n and H. VAN DE R HUL S T The Phonological Structure of Words F. R. P al me r Mood and Modality Second edition B. J. B l ake Case Second edition E. Gu s s man Phonology:€Analysis and Theory M. Y i p Tone W. Cr of t Typology and Universals Second edition F. Coul mas Writing Systems:€An Introduction to their Linguistic Analysis P. J. Hop p e r and E . C . T R AUGOT T Grammaticalization Second edition L. Whi t e Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar I. Plag Word-Formation in English W. Cr of t and A. C R US E Cognitive Linguistics A . S ie w i e r s ka Person A . Ra df or d Minimalist Syntax:€Exploring the Structure of English D . BÜ R i ng Binding Theory M. But t Theories of Case N. Ho r ns t e i n, J . NUÑE S and K. GR OHM A N N Understanding Minimalism B. C. L us t Child Language:€Acquisition and Growth G . G. C or b e t t Agreement J. C. L . I ngr am Neurolinguistics:€An Introduction to Spoken Languag