The Evolution of Grammar

Tense, Aspect, and Modality in the Languages of the World

By: Joan Bybee, Revere Perkins, William Pagliuca

Write A Review

Paperback | 15 November 1994 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
420 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.28 x 1.54 x 0.25

Paperback

RRP $85.95

$66.75

22%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $16.69 with

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

Joan Bybee and her colleagues present a new theory of the evolution of grammar that links structure and meaning in a way that directly challenges most contemporary versions of generative grammar. This study focuses on the use and meaning of grammatical markers of tense, aspect, and modality and identifies a universal set of grammatical categories. The authors demonstrate that the semantic content of these categories evolves gradually and that this process of evolution is strikingly similar across unrelated languages.

Through a survey of seventy-six languages in twenty-five different phyla, the authors show that the same paths of change occur universally and that movement along these paths is in one direction only. This analysis reveals that lexical substance evolves into grammatical substance through various mechanisms of change, such as metaphorical extension and the conventionalization of implicature. Grammaticization is always accompanied by an increase in frequency of the grammatical marker, providing clear evidence that language use is a major factor in the evolution of synchronic language states.

The Evolution of Grammar has important implications for the development of language and for the study of cognitive processes in general.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Language & Linguistics Linguistics Historical & Comparative Linguistics Grammar, Syntax & Morphology Miscellaneous Items Sociology & Anthropology Language Learning & Teaching Language Teaching & Learning Material & Coursework Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation

Figures and Tables
Preface and Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Theoretical Background
Method Used in the Study
Anterior, Perfective, and Related Senses
A Quantitative Approach to Grammaticization
Progressive, Imperfective, Present, and Related Senses
Mood and Modality
Future
Mechanisms of Semantic Change
Gramcats Sampling Procedure
Meaning Labels
Sources of Language Data
Bibliography for Gramcats Sample
References
Author Index
Languages Index
Subject Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

The Evolution of Grammar

Tense, Aspect, and Modality in the Languages of the World

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Sociology & Anthropology

The European Mind

The Secrets of our DNA

How Genetics has Changed the World

The Nerd Reich

Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy

Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings

(When) Do Leaders Make a Difference?

The American Way of Killing

The Invention of an Epidemic

The Fourth Turning

An American Prophecy: What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny

Vibe

The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World

We Should All be Feminists

Decolonizing Methodologies

3rd Edition - Research and Indigenous Peoples

The Anzac Legacy of C J Dennis

The Laureate of the Larrikin

She Births

Your practical guide to a beautiful birth

Hillbilly Elegy

The Internationally Bestselling Memoir from Trump's Future Vice-President of the United States

When Breath Becomes Air

What makes life worth living in the face of death

Black Skin, White Masks

Penguin Modern Classics

All About Love

New Visions

In Trees

An Exploration of Ancient Living Wisdom, From Wild Branches to Deep Roots

Find Me at the Jaffa Gate

An encyclopaedia of a Palestinian family - Longlisted for the 2026 Stella Prize

Snake Talk

How the world's ancient serpent stories can guide us

Nexus

A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

Countries, Cultures, People & Places

A Visual World Geography Encyclopedia for Kids

Matrescence

On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood

The Rest is History

The official book from the makers of the hit podcast

Sand Talk

How Indigenous thinking can save the world

The Coffin Confessor

One Man's Fight to Survive the Past and Leave Nothing to Fate

This product is categorised by