A New Approach to English Grammar, on Semantic Principles

by R.M.W. Dixon

This work offers a fresh approach to grammar, arguing that a speaker "codes" a meaning into grammatical forms in order to communicate them to a hearer. Investigating the interrelation of grammar and meaning, Dixon uncovers a rationale for the varying grammatical properties of different words.
He offers a review of some of the main points of English syntax, as well as a discussion of English verbs in terms of semantic types. Finally, he examines five specific grammatical complement clauses in detail; complement clauses, transitivity and causatives; passive construction; promotion
of a non-subject to subject slot; and the relation between verb constructions.

414 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 1991

About the author

Robert Malcolm Ward Dixon is a Professor of Linguistics in the College of Arts, Society, and Education and The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Queensland. He is also Deputy Director of The Language and Culture Research Centre at JCU.