I have remarked before on the pleasures of the LINGUIST list. By policy (it's a heavy traffic list) answers to queries are sent to the person who asked them, who then compiles and posts a summary. The morning mail brings this compilation of textbooks related to English grammar from a linguistic perspective. Carolyn Kirkpatrick [log in to unmask] ========================forwarded message ====================== From: MX%"[log in to unmask]" 26-APR-1996 01:01:30.86 To: MX%"[log in to unmask]" CC: Subj: 7.620, Sum: English Textbooks in Linguistics ---------------------------------Messages------------------------------------ 1) Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 12:23:02 PDT From: [log in to unmask] (Johanna Rubba) Subject: English Textbooks in Linguistics Hello all, My posting is prompted by Livia Polanyi's request for information about textbooks for a class on the Structure of English, but I am posting it to the whole list in fulfilment of a promise to post a summary of suggestions sent to me when I sent out a similar request a good while ago. Here are the results of my search, as well as results of using some of the books for classes. (All except Kolln are paperbacks.) Books focused on structure of English (vs. general ling with English focus): I have used: -Givon, T. English grammar, a function-based introduction Vols. I & II, Benjamins, 1993, ISBN 1-55619-464-1 & 465-X A relatively comprehensive survey of English syntax (1 chap. on morph.), lots of examples, in outline form with text explanations. Students who are not ling. majors had trouble with the mass of information and the relative sophistication of explanations in this set. No exercises; no phonetics/phonology; very little sociolinguistics. -Traugott, Elizabeth C. & Mary Louise Pratt, Linguistics for students of literature. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980, 0-15-551030-4. A combo intro-ling, intro to structure of English, and application of linguistic concepts to literature (the latter is separable from the the former two). Has chapter exercises, incl. appl. to lit. Also has chapters on discourse, text, semantics, and language variation and language in contact. -Kolln, Martha, Understanding English Grammar. Macmillan, 1990 (4th ed.). ISBN 0-02-366072-4. A combination of linguistics and traditional grammar, with emphasis on syntax, incl. sentence patterns based on verb type; uses traditional sentence diagrams, not trees (though trees are introduced in an appendix). Syntax chapters come first; morphology is in later chapters, and phonology (a short treatment) is in an appendix; I just took them in my own order, which worked fine. The book has exercises, and there is also an accompanying workbook which I did not use -- basically, more of the same as in the text. The exercises are of two types: practice-application type, and inductive 'do linguistic analysis from your own intuition' type; some mix the two. Has a section on 'Grammar for writers' which covers some discourse/text/rhetoric/formal English usage/style. As to my assessment of these books, I seem to change the book every time I teach the course, so clearly I see shortcomings with all of them. I will be examining a few other books for use next year, but I may return to Kolln if none seems workable. Books I haven't used: -Kaplan, Jeffrey. English grammar: Principles & facts. Prentice Hall. There is a new edition out of this book that I haven't seen. The one I have in front of me is very like an intro ling book in arrangement & tone. Linguistics insights about lang., variation, and change are in Ch. 1; the remainder marches through phonetics/phonology, morphology, & syntax, with a lot of detail in the syntax portion that may be a bit much for non-linguists, but could be very good for ling. majors. I will definitely review the latest edition for possible use next year. Has within-chapter & chapter-end exercises. -Sedley, Dorothy, Anatomy of English. St. Martins', 1990. OUT OF PRINT. Linguistics/traditional grammar combo, mostly linguistics; lots (some might say overkill) of inductive exercises within the chapters. Includes chapters on phonology (very short), variation, history, the spelling system, usage. Good summaries at end of chapter and study questions. I have lifted ideas and strategies from this book, but couldn't test it, as it is out of print and I couldn't get the permission to reprint in time for my class. -Murray, Thomas E. The structure of English. Allyn & Bacon,1995. ISBN 0-205-16053-0. Covers only phonetics, phonology, and morphology, and is intended to cover only a portion of an Engl. structure course. Takes a linguistic approach; has exercises within and at end of chapters. -Lock, Graham. Functional English grammar: An introduction for second language teachers. Cambridge U., 1996. ISBN 0-521-45922-2. A notion-based grammar (e.g. "Doing & happening: the transitivity of action processes"; "Organizing messages: Theme & focus"). I haven't examined this book closely yet, but I will. I think it may be useful for my courses in spite of the teaching focus. It does not appear to cover phonetics/phonology. Morphology seems to be incorporated into the various notion-based discussions. Has 'Tasks' peppered throughout the chapters. -Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics. Cambridge U., 1984; reprinted 1995. ISBN 0 521 29704 4 I haven't examined this book. Seems to focus on syntax/morphology. No exercises. British English. There are two books I would recommend highly as sociolinguistic supplements: -Wolfram, Walt, & Donna Christian, Dialects & education: Issues & answers. Prentice-Hall, 1989. ISBN 0-13-209867-9. OUT OF PRINT, but I obtained permission to have my bookstore produce it in photocopy. A very basic introduction to dialect variation, written in nontechnical language in a very accessible question-answer format. I find it very useful for courses taken by students intending to teach at elementary and secondary levels. It's very short and can be used as a supplemental text. -Wolfram, Walt, Dialects & American English. Prentice-Hall, 1991. A standard-length treatment of variation in English, including treatments of gender and style as well as educational issues. With exercises. I've never used this in a course, but might consider it in a class focusing on sociolinguistic issues. As to intro ling texts that focus on English in their examples, the ones I have had success with are O'Grady, Dobrovolsky & Aronoff, Contemporary Linguistics: An introduction (St. Martin's) and Edward Finegan, Language: Its structure & use. Both contain chapters on sociolinguistics, though Finegan goes into more detail and also treats register in a chapter of its own. Both treat historical ling and/or history of English, and have good chapter exercises. I've been using O'Grady for a long time, but will probably stop soon, because my students (non-ling major undergrads) are complaining that they don't understand the book. I think it is because it is written in scientific-discourse mode, and they can't take the combination of the relative difficulty of linguistics concepts and 'big words'. Rather than go back to Finegan, I will probably try Language Files (Ohio State U). This book is nicely arranged and seems to have good explanations; it may focus too much on other languages than English for use in an English structure course. I have reviewed several other intro ling books (Fromkin & Rodman, Burling, Parker & Riley, Akmajian & Heny), but chose not to use them for various reasons. I hope those who were waiting for my summary to come forth will forgive the delay; and that the summary will be useful for people teaching courses focused on English. I'd welcome further input on any of these books as well as queries of any sort from my colleagues. Johanna = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Johanna Rubba Assistant Professor, Linguistics = English Department, California Polytechnic State University = San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 = Tel. (805)-756-0117 E-mail: [log in to unmask] = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LINGUIST List: Vol-7-620.