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Space Grammar, Analysability, and the English Passive

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2026

Ronald W. Langacker
Ronald W. Langacker*
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
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Abstract

Alternatives are discussed for a number of assumptions fundamental to established linguistic theories. These alternatives lead to a coherent view of linguistic structure that treats grammar as a symbolic phenomenon, and emphasizes the importance of analys-ability to grammatical structure. A descriptive framework called space grammar is outlined, in particular its approach to semantic structure and grammatical valence relations. The concepts are applied first to nominal structure and then to the English passive construction. It is claimed that be, by, and the participial morpheme are all meaningful, and that passives are not derived from an active clausal source.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Language , Volume 58 , Issue 1 , March 1982, pp. 22 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © 1982 by the Linguistic Society of America

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