Prepositions and Particles in English: A Discourse-functional Account

by Elizabeth M. O'Dowd

Overview

Elizabeth M. O'Dowd offers a new, discourse-functional account of the categories "preposition" and "particle" in English. She explains why certain words have membership in both categories, and solves many intriguing puzzles long associated with the syntax and semantics of these words. Based on linguistic data extracted from a series of actual conversations, O'Dowd provides new insights into how prepositions and particles are used, and how their meanings can change across different discourse contexts over time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195111026
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/23/1998
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	17 Years

Editorial Reviews

"The chapters are argumentative discourse ar its best. O'Dowd's research on English "P-forms" gives the kind of evidence that should challenge those of us working on lesser documented languages to consider dissolving these boundaries in our own research, and asking some important questions. O'Dowd's broad research into both past and current analyses and descriptions of adverbs, prepositions, and other linguistic structures that impinge on the interpretation of them is impressive. In addition to the contribution her book makes to English linguistic research, her work is a splendid model for language research, description, and explanation." —SIL Book Reviews

From the Publisher