A Historical Syntax of English

EDINBURGH TEXTBOOKS ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE -ADVANCED SERIES EDITOR: HEINZ GIEGERICH Books in this series provide readers with a detailed description and explanation of key areas of English Language study. The authors presuppose a basic working knowledge of the topic and explore aspects of the linguistics of English for an intermediate or advanced student readership. A Historical Syntax of English Bettelou Los This textbook provides graduate and advanced undergraduate students of linguistics with a toolkit for addressing the key issues of interpretation and explanation in the historical syntax of the English language. Topics covered include the development of lexical verbs into auxiliaries, how lexical and grammatical aspects interact with syntax and discourse, the original motivations for finite verb movement, and inconsistencies in the main clause/sub-clause distinction in Old English. Each chapter provides the reader with suggestions for further reading, as well as exercises designed to test understanding of this complex and fascinating field.