
Contents
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15.1 Introduction 15.1 Introduction
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15.2 History: The Greenbergian Paradigm 15.2 History: The Greenbergian Paradigm
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15.3 Explaining Typological Generalizations 15.3 Explaining Typological Generalizations
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15.4 On the Methodology of Typological Research 15.4 On the Methodology of Typological Research
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15.5 Areal Features 15.5 Areal Features
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15.6 The Problem of Limited Data 15.6 The Problem of Limited Data
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15.7 Some Recent Trends 15.7 Some Recent Trends
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15.8 Comparing Categories Across Languages 15.8 Comparing Categories Across Languages
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15.9 The Middle Way: Selective Global Comparison 15.9 The Middle Way: Selective Global Comparison
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15.10 In Conclusion 15.10 In Conclusion
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15 Linguistic Typology
Get accessAnders Holmberg received his Ph.D. from Stockholm University in 1987 and is currently Professor of Theoretical Linguistics at Newcastle University, having previously held positions in Morocco, Sweden, and Norway. His main research interests are in the fields of comparative syntax and syntactic theory, with a particular focus on the Scandinavian languages and Finnish. His publications include numerous articles in journals such as Lingua, Linguistic Inquiry, Theoretical Linguistics, and Studia Linguistica, and several books, including (with Theresa Biberauer, Ian Roberts, and Michelle Sheehan) Parametric Variation: Null Subjects in Minimalist Theory (2010, CUP) and The Syntax of Yes and No (2016, OUP).
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Published:06 February 2017
Cite
Abstract
Linguistic typology is a research program that aims to describe and understand linguistic variation, distinguishing between properties which are shared across languages for historical reasons and properties shared for other reasons to do with ‘the nature of language.’ The preferred method is comparison of very large numbers of languages, sampled so as to control for genealogical and areal biases. The preferred mode of explanation is in terms of functional rather than formal notions. This chapter discusses the history of the research program, from Greenbergian universals to the present-day greater focus on probabilistic correlations between linguistic properties, with particular attention given to areal features. Some problems and shortcomings of this generally very successful research program are discussed, including problems of methodology and use of data, with special focus on its flagship WALS database. The relation between typology and generative linguistics and their relation to universal grammar is discussed.
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