Diagnosing Syntax
Oxford University Press eBooks · 2013
Abstract Diagnosis is an essential part of scientific research. It refers to the process of identifying a phenomenon, property, or condition on the basis of certain signs and by the use of various diagnostic procedures. This book considers the use of diagnostics in syntactic research and focuses on the five core domains of natural language syntax — ellipsis, agreement, anaphora, phrasal movement, and head movement. Each empirical domain is considered in turn from the perspectives of syntax, syntax at the interfaces, neuropsycholinguistics, and language diversity. The book presents current thoughts on, and practical answers to, the question: What are the diagnostic signs, techniques, and procedures that can be used to analyse natural language syntax?