Possible and Probable Languages: A Generative Perspective on Linguistic Typology

Abstract

This book takes on the question of language variety, addressing the question of why some language types are impossible and why some grammatical features are more common than others. The task of trying to explain typological variation among languages has been mainly undertaken by functionally-oriented linguists. Generative grammarians entering the field of typology in the 1980s put forward the idea that cross-linguistic differences could be explained by linguistic parameters within Universal Grammar, whose operation might vary from language to language. Unfortunately, this way of looking at variation turned out to be much less successful than was hoped for. The alternative to parameters is presented, which combines leading ideas from functionalist and formalist approaches that in the past have been considered incompatible. It throws fresh light on language typology and variation, and provides new insights into the principles of Universal Grammar.