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Abstract

This chapter discusses the usage-based theory of language. It argues that from this perspective there are very few synchronic universals in the sense of features that can be found in all languages. The only synchronic universal is that all languages have at least some minimal derivational morphology. It further argues that language change has to be taken into account in order to understand language universals. Factors relating to language useâsuch as frequency of usageâlead to grammaticalization, which tends to follow specific developmental paths. It suggests that language universals may be best viewed in terms of such unidirectional paths of linguistic change, driven by constraints arising from domain-general processes rather than ones that are specific to language.

Keywords: usage-based approach; grammaticalization; linguistic theory; linguistic universals; minimal derivational morphology

@incollection{bybee09LUchapter,
  author={Joan Bybee},
  title={Language Universals and Usage-Based Theory},
  year={2009},
  pages={17-40},
  chapter={2},
  editor={M.H. Christiansen and C. Collins and S. Edelman},
  publisher={Oxford University Press},
  booktitle={Language Universals},
  url={http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/bybee09LUchapter.html},
  keywords={usage-based approach; grammaticalization; linguistic theory; linguistic universals; minimal derivational morphology}
}