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Head-marking languages and linguistic theory

  • Robert D. Van Valin Jr.
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Language Typology and Historical Contingency
This chapter is in the book Language Typology and Historical Contingency

Abstract

In her path-breaking 1986 paper, Johanna Nichols proposed a typological contrast between head-marking and dependent-marking languages. Nichols argues that even though the syntactic relations between the head and its dependents are the same in both types of language, the syntactic “bond” between them is not the same; in dependent-marking languages it is one of government, whereas in head-marking languages it is one of apposition. This distinction raises an important question for linguistic theory: How can this contrast – government versus apposition – which can show up in all of the major phrasal types in a language, be captured? The purpose of this paper is to explore the various approaches that have been taken in an attempt to capture the difference between head-marked and dependent-marked syntax in different linguistic theories. The basic problem that head-marking languages pose for syntactic theory will be presented, and then generative approaches will be discussed. The analysis of head-marked structure in Role and Reference Grammar will be presented.

Abstract

In her path-breaking 1986 paper, Johanna Nichols proposed a typological contrast between head-marking and dependent-marking languages. Nichols argues that even though the syntactic relations between the head and its dependents are the same in both types of language, the syntactic “bond” between them is not the same; in dependent-marking languages it is one of government, whereas in head-marking languages it is one of apposition. This distinction raises an important question for linguistic theory: How can this contrast – government versus apposition – which can show up in all of the major phrasal types in a language, be captured? The purpose of this paper is to explore the various approaches that have been taken in an attempt to capture the difference between head-marked and dependent-marked syntax in different linguistic theories. The basic problem that head-marking languages pose for syntactic theory will be presented, and then generative approaches will be discussed. The analysis of head-marked structure in Role and Reference Grammar will be presented.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Part I. Structures and typologies
  5. Discourse semantics and the form of the verb predicate in Karachay-Balkar 3
  6. Typology and channel of communication 47
  7. Marking versus indexing 69
  8. Head-marking languages and linguistic theory 91
  9. Lessons of variability in clause coordination 125
  10. Noun classes grow on trees 153
  11. Affecting valence in Khumi 171
  12. Capturing diversity in language acquisition research 195
  13. Part II. Distributions in time and space
  14. Who inherits what, when? 219
  15. Polysynthesis in the Arctic/Sub-Arctic 241
  16. A (micro-)accretion zone in a remnant zone? 265
  17. A history of Iroquoian gender marking 283
  18. The satem shift, Armenian siseṙn, and the early Indo-European of the Balkans 299
  19. Penultimate lengthening in Bantu 309
  20. Culture and the spread of Slavic 331
  21. The syntax and pragmatics of Tungusic revisited 357
  22. Some observations on typological features of hunter-gatherer languages 383
  23. Typologizing phonetic precursors to sound change 395
  24. Distributional biases in language families 415
  25. The morphology of imperatives in Lak 445
  26. Subgrouping in Tibeto-Burman 463
  27. Part III. A (cautionary) note on methodology
  28. Real data, contrived data, and the Yokuts Canon 477
  29. Language index 495
  30. Name index 499
  31. Subject index 505
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.104.04val

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Part I. Structures and typologies
  5. Discourse semantics and the form of the verb predicate in Karachay-Balkar 3
  6. Typology and channel of communication 47
  7. Marking versus indexing 69
  8. Head-marking languages and linguistic theory 91
  9. Lessons of variability in clause coordination 125
  10. Noun classes grow on trees 153
  11. Affecting valence in Khumi 171
  12. Capturing diversity in language acquisition research 195
  13. Part II. Distributions in time and space
  14. Who inherits what, when? 219
  15. Polysynthesis in the Arctic/Sub-Arctic 241
  16. A (micro-)accretion zone in a remnant zone? 265
  17. A history of Iroquoian gender marking 283
  18. The satem shift, Armenian siseṙn, and the early Indo-European of the Balkans 299
  19. Penultimate lengthening in Bantu 309
  20. Culture and the spread of Slavic 331
  21. The syntax and pragmatics of Tungusic revisited 357
  22. Some observations on typological features of hunter-gatherer languages 383
  23. Typologizing phonetic precursors to sound change 395
  24. Distributional biases in language families 415
  25. The morphology of imperatives in Lak 445
  26. Subgrouping in Tibeto-Burman 463
  27. Part III. A (cautionary) note on methodology
  28. Real data, contrived data, and the Yokuts Canon 477
  29. Language index 495
  30. Name index 499
  31. Subject index 505
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