Minimum of English Grammar

Minimum of English Grammar: An Introduction to Feature Theory, Volume I provides a comprehensive exploration of feature theory grammar. The text presents grammar in a way similar to the Periodic Tables of Elements—allowing for the tinkering with sub-particles of words to show how isolated features project one phrase over another, and contribute to particular phrasings. The book presents the kind of theoretical syntax highly regarded among Chomskyan linguists.

Section I analyzes the segments of language in a systematic way, recognizing both lexical and functional categorization. It addresses parts of speech, movement and constituency, and common grammatical errors. Section II covers general questions surrounding linguistic phenomena. Particular attention is given to how a feature given account can assist in understanding specific language disorders and historical language change. This section includes a standalone chapter on the nature of child language acquisition. Section III is devoted to phonology and the (American) English International Phonetic Alphabet. It includes anecdotal evidence calling for a dual mechanism model of phonological representation. The final chapter discusses the use of tree diagramming in phonology.

The revised first edition includes a conclusion chapter, glossary, and index, allowing the first volume to be a self-contained text.

Minimum of English Grammar is an excellent introduction textbook for students of linguistics, syntax, and morphology.