Theories of Case

Miriam Butt

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139164696

Case, a system which marks the relationships between words in a sentence, is fundamental to every language. Looking at how different theories of syntax have accounted for the distribution of case across languages, this accessible 2006 textbook introduces the various approaches to case that have been proposed in modern linguistics. Clearly organised into topics, it provides beginning students with a solid understanding of the ideas behind the development of theories of case. For the more advanced reader, it presents theories that have been formulated about the interaction between case morphology, argument structure, grammatical relations and semantics, and offers a detailed cross-theoretical discussion of how these are motivated. Each chapter contains practical exercises, encouraging students to engage with the ideas discussed. Drawing on data from a wide range of languages and pooling together a variety of perspectives, Theories of Case is essential reading for all those studying this important area of linguistics.

"I am incredibly impressed with the breadth of theories understood and discussed by Butt. She has read widely and processed the material in such a way as to make it uncommonly accessible. I recommend the book for your reference library, whether you are a field linguist or a grammar teacher. It could even serve as a good textbook choice for any grammar teacher who surveys morphosyntactic theory." - Lou Hohulin, Sil International

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Theories of Case

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-x

Acknowledgements
pp xi-xii

Abbreviations
pp xiii-xiv

1 - Introduction
pp 1-11

2 - Foundational Perspectives
pp 12-22

3 - Grammatical Relations
pp 23-45

4 - Structural Case
pp 46-90

5 - Linking Theories
pp 91-152

6 - The Ergative Dragon
pp 153-187

7 - The Semantics of Case
pp 188-201

8 - More Theories Great and Small
pp 202-227

References
pp 228-249

Language Index
pp 250-251

Subject Index
pp 252-258

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Theories of Case

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