This book offers a perspective on the structure of human language. The fundamental issue it addresses is the proper balance between syntax and semantics, between structure and derivation, and between rule systems and lexicon. It argues that the balance struck by mainstream generative grammar is wrong. It puts forward a new basis for syntactic theory, drawing on a wide range of frameworks, and charts new directions for research. In the past four decades, theories of syntactic structure have become more abstract and syntactic derivations have become more complex. The book traces this development through the history of contemporary syntactic theory, showing how much it has been driven by theory-internal rather than empirical considerations. It develops an alternative that is responsive to linguistic, cognitive, computational, and biological concerns. At the core of this alternative is the Simpler Syntax Hypothesis: the most explanatory syntactic theory is one that imputes the minimum structure necessary to mediate between phonology and meaning. A consequence of this hypothesis is a richer mapping between syntax and semantics than is generally assumed. Through analyses of grammatical phenomena, some old and some new, the book demonstrates the empirical and conceptual superiority of the Simpler Syntax approach.
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The now-classic Metaphors We Live By changed our understanding of metaphor and its role in language and the mind. Metaphor, the authors explain, is a fundamental mechanism of mind, one that allows us to use what we know about our physical and social experience to provide understanding of countless other subjects. Because such metaphors structure our most basic understandings of our experience, they are "metaphors we live by"—metaphors that can shape our perceptions and actions without our ever noticing them.
Cognitive Foundations of Grammar
The main function of language is to convey meaning. The question of why
language is structured the way it is, Heine here argues, has therefore
to be answered first of all with reference to this function. Linguistic
explanations in terms of other exponents of language structure, e.g. of
syntax, are likely to highlight peripheral or epi-phenomenal rather
than central characteristics of language structure. This book uses
basic findings on grammaticalization processes to describe the role of
cognitive forces in shaping grammar. It provides students with an
introductory treatment of a field of linguistics that has developed
recently and is rapidly expanding.
The Bell Curve. Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life
According to
The Bell Curve, Intelligence and Class Structure in AmericanLife, by
Richard J. Herrnstein, Ph.D. Psychology, Harvard University,and Charles
Murray, Ph.D. Political Science, M.I.T., black IQ scores areso far
below white IQ scores in their distribution as to preclude
usefulAffirmative Action Programs. The reason? Only 29,000 African
Americans haveIQ levels above 130 points, the minimal level found
suitable for many executivesin business. With 15+ million businesses in
America, this leaves fewer than1 theoretically qualified African
American for each 500 businesses to serveas executives; however, more
than 20,000 of these 29,000 African Americansare under 21 years of age
and one-half of those precious few 9,000 AfricanAmericans who are
presently above 21 years of age will never earn a
universityundergraduate degree. That leaves just 4,500 African
Americans over 130IQ points with a university degree to share among 15+
million companies.this is why Affirmative Action has aided white women
and asians in achievinghigh promotions more than it has African
Americans.
