Mysteries of English Grammar

A Guide to Complexities of the English Language

Mysteries of English Grammar
Laurie Bauer, Andreea S Calude
RRP:
NZ$ 51.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 49.39
Paperback
h234 x 156mm - 180pg
30 Sep 2021 UK
9780367710279
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Despite a history of hundreds of years of research analysing aspects of English grammar, there are still open problems which continue to baffle language researchers today. Such ' grammar mysteries' arise for a number of reasons: because the language is changing; because different speakers of the language adhere to distinct norms and thus introduce and maintain variation in the system; because there are differences between the grammar of spoken and written English. This book illuminates some of the complexities of the subject, the areas where new discoveries await and why it matters. Through a series of accessible and engaging case studies on various aspects of grammar, from multiple negation to possession, the authors present grammar as an intellectual challenge. This book brings out into the open questions about language usage to which we still do not have good answers in a bid to make variation overt and to revel in the mystery of the English language. Both aimed at the interested general reader and the beginning student of English language and linguistics, this is a fresh take on grammar.
"In this exciting and innovative book Calude and Bauer demystify English grammar by cracking some of its hard nuts. Warmly recommended to anyone who is interested in the study of English syntax. "Bas Aarts, UCL, UK "This unconventional treatment of a wide selection of topics in English grammar calls many previous explanations into question. In citing factors which influence speakers' choices it goes beyond the narrow confines of traditional grammars to include overarching factors like on-going change, spoken-written differences, and the language variety of the speaker-user. "Stephan Gramley, Bielefeld University, Germany
Andreea S. Calude is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. She has a background in mathematics and linguistics and researches (spoken) grammar, language evolution, loanwords and just about any quantitative language-related question she can get data on. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Te Reo - the Journal of the Linguistic Society of New Zealand and the co-editor of Questions About Language, with Laurie Bauer (2020). Laurie Bauer FRSNZ in Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington. He is the author of over twenty books including The Oxford Reference Guide to English Morphology (2013), which won the LSA' s Leonard Bloomfield Prize. In 2017 he was awarded the Royal Society of New Zealand' s Humanities Medal.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780367710279
Published: 30 Sep 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Routledge
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Format: Paperback
Height: 234mm
Width: 156mm
Pages: 180

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information

Details of the product above will be automatically included with your enquiry.