Rhyme and Reason: An Introduction to Minimalist Syntax
Rhyme and Reason: An Introduction to Minimalist Syntax
Publisher: The MIT Press | ISBN: 0262210142 | edition 1998 | DJVU | 694 pages | 21,1 mb
Publisher: The MIT Press | ISBN: 0262210142 | edition 1998 | DJVU | 694 pages | 21,1 mb
This unusual book takes the form of a dialogue between a linguist and another scientist. The dialogue takes place over six days, with each day devoted to a particular topic–and the ensuing digressions. The role of the linguist is to present the fundamentals of the minimalist program of contemporary generative grammar. Although the linguist serves essentially as a voice for Noam Chomsky's ideas, he is not intended to be a portrait of Chomsky himself. The other scientist functions as a kind of devil's advocate, making the arguments that linguists tend to face from those in the "harder" sciences. In addition to the device of the dialogue, the author employs a myriad of graphics–everything from classical paintings to contemporary cartoons.