Belfast English and Standard English: Dialect Variation and Parameter Setting

by Alison Henry

Overview

The study of comparative syntax in closely related languages has yielded valuable insights into syntactic phenomena--for example in the study of the Romance languages--yet little comparative work has been done on English dialects. This is the first comparison of the syntax of Belfast English and Standard English, using Chomsky's "Principles and Parameters"/Minimalist framework. Alison Henry analyzes various Belfast English constructions and their Standard English counterparts to gain insight into both English syntax and syntactic theory in general. In the process, she makes valuable data on Belfast English readily available for the first time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195359497
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/16/1995
Series:	Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	400 KB

About the Author

Alison Henry was born and reared in Belfast, and after studying Linguistics at York University in England, returned there to lecture in Linguistics at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.

Editorial Reviews

"This extremely readable and well-produced book is to be commended for its clarity and lack of obfuscation...This book will be particularly useful for researchers who wish to develop interests in both linguistic theory and language variation, bridging the gulf which has for too long been a feature of the linguistic landscape."—Language in Society

From the Publisher