Abstract
Agreement is among the most widely-researched issues in theoretical linguistics. In this introduction, we critically review some of the key issues, focussing on typological approaches to agreement, the role of agreement in establishing and maintaining reference, and the emergence of agreement diachronically. We point to the interplay of semantic, pragmatic and syntactic factors in shaping the way agreement systems function, and emphasize the need for more usage-based research in understanding the impact of extra-syntactic factors. We also argue for greater attention to lesser-researched languages, particularly those where features other than person are central in agreement relations. Finally, we offer a short synopsis of the contributions to this issue.
Acknowledgements
This issue of the journal Linguistics grew out of a workshop on “Agreement in Discourse”, held at the University of Bamberg in February 2013. We would like to express our thanks to all participants at the workshop for their input, to the Daimler and Benz Foundation and the University of Bamberg for providing generous financial support, and to the journal editors, reviewers, and our authors, for their unflagging patience and support over an extended period. We also thank Stefan Schnell for detailed comments on an earlier version of this introduction; the responsibility for the remaining shortcomings is our own.
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© 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Agreement in grammar and discourse: A research overview
- Whence subject-verb agreement? Investigating the role of topicality, accessibility, and frequency in Vera’a texts
- The grammaticalization of object pronouns: Why differential object indexing is an attractor state
- The rise of person agreement in East Lezgic: Assessing the role of frequency
- Agreement with overt and null arguments in Ingush
- Gender agreement is different
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Agreement in grammar and discourse: A research overview
- Whence subject-verb agreement? Investigating the role of topicality, accessibility, and frequency in Vera’a texts
- The grammaticalization of object pronouns: Why differential object indexing is an attractor state
- The rise of person agreement in East Lezgic: Assessing the role of frequency
- Agreement with overt and null arguments in Ingush
- Gender agreement is different