English dialect syntax in Word Grammar

Richard Hudson

last changed 7 April 2007

Bibliographical information

Written for a special issue of English Language and Linguistics (volume 11 number 1, 2007) edited by Graeme Trousdale and David Adger. I wrote the first draft in summer 2006, but completely rewrote it in the light of comments from readers and re-submitted it in Jan 2007. The downloadable version is the final pre-proof version, as of March 8 2007.

Abstract

The paper focuses on inherent variability in syntax and the challenge that it presents for theories of language structure, using illustrative data from the small Scottish town of Buckie (Smith 2000). Inherent variability challenges a linguistic theory at three levels of theoretical adequacy: structural (Does the theory distinguish the relevant structures?), contextual (Does it allow structures to be related directly to their social context?) and behavioural (Does it allow an explanation for the observed frequencies?). The paper summarises the relevant claims of Word Grammar and shows (1) that it has at least as much structural adequacy as any other theory, (2) that it has more contextual adequacy than other theories because it formalises the theory of Acts of Identity, and (3) that it at least provides a theoretical foundation for future advances towards behavioural adequacy. The paper also argues against the minimalist analysis of the was/were alternation in Buckie (Adger 2006).