This chapter summarises the major take-homes and discusses in greater detail how one might empirically test the model developed in the book.

This chapter surveys what the ethological record reveals about the uniqueness of the human computational system, and explores how linguistic theories account for what ethology may determine to be human-specific. The core computational architecture of the language faculty is compared alongside existing accounts of non-human primates, songbirds and a number of other species, helping to delimit what computational processes electrophysiological models of language need to account for.

This introductory chapter will discuss the general goals of the book, which are essentially exploratory (i.e. a comprehensive review of the current state of the art) and explanatory (i.e. discussing the potential for particular aspects of brains dynamics and neuroanatomy to explain basic features of linguistic cognition). A background of the relevant linguistic concepts will be presented, and the concept of natural language syntax will be sufficiently decomposed into more generic computational processes.

This chapter refines the oscillatory model of phrase structure building. Considerably, greater empirical coverage will be presented, but the narrow focus on syntactic and semantic comprehension is maintained. In addition, broader implications for neuroethology and theories of language evolution are discussed.

This chapter argues that syntactic structures contain a range of different types of empty category It begins by arguing (4.1) that seemingly subjectless sentences have null subjects of various kinds. It then argues that all clauses contain a TP projection, and that TP can be headed by a null T constituent in indicative clauses (4.2), subjunctive clauses, infinitive clauses, and small clauses (4.3). It then goes on to argue that all finite clauses are CPs headed by an overt or null C constituent (4.4), and that the same is true of most infinitive clauses (4.5). However, evidence is presented that small clauses and some infinitival clauses are defective in respect of lacking the CP layer found in other clauses. There is then a discussion of empty categories in nominals (4.6), arguing in support of positing null determiners and quantifiers, and null prepositions introducing so-called adverbial’ nominals/pronouns. The chapter concludes with a summary (4.7), and a set of bibliographical notes (4.8). Accompanying free-to-download materials include a Workbook and Answerbook for students, and an Answerbook and set of PowerPoints for teachers.

This chapter starts (5.1) by arguing that Subject-Auxiliary Inversion involves a copying operation by which a copy of an auxiliary in T is moved into C and the original copy of the auxiliary in T is given a null spellout. It goes on (5.2) to explore the licensing of Inversion, and argues that clauses containing an inverted auxiliary following an overt complementiser involve CP recursion. It then turns (5.3) to look at the V-to-T raising operation by which finite verbs raise from V to T in Shakespearean English, and (5.4) at the Auxiliary Raising operation by which an auxiliary can raise from a position below T to adjoin to an unattached Tense affix in T in present-day English. There is then discussion of the nature of negation (5.5) and do-support (5.6). The chapter concludes with a summary (5.7), and a set of bibliographical notes (5.8). Accompanying free-to-download materials include a Workbook and Answerbook for students, and an Answerbook and set of PowerPoints for teachers: each of these contain a separate set of materials for each core section of the chapter.

This chapter examines a range of movement operations by which phrases can move to spec-CP. It begins by arguing (6.1) that wh-questions are CPs containing a wh-constituent which moves from some position below C into spec-CP. It goes on (6.2) to show how question words can pied-pipe additional material along with them when they move, and argues that this is in consequence of putatively universal principles governing movement. There is then (6.3) discussion of evidence that long Wh-Movement proceeds one clause at a time, and of constraints which determine how it applies. 6.4 examines the syntax of wh-exclamatives, arguing that these too involve Wh-Movement, and discussing the factors determining what moves where. 6.5 discusses various types of relative clause, and provides a Wh-Movement account of restrictive relative clauses, as well as sketching an alternative Antecedent Raising account. The chapter concludes with a summary (6.6), and a set of bibliographical notes (6.7). Accompanying free-to-download materials include a Workbook and Answerbook for students, and an Answerbook and set of PowerPoints for teachers.