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Abstract

This chapter examines synchronic cross-linguistic patterns in grammars and language use. It proposes that âvariation-definingâ universals delimit the scope of possible variation across languages. Examples of such universals include the Greenbergian implicational universals and the parameters in the Government-Binding tradition. It argues that variation-defining universals should be understood in terms of performance principles. It further suggests these same performance principles govern variation of structures within languages, dictating that following a verb, short prepositional phrases should precede long prepositional phrases.

Keywords: syntax; relative clauses; linguistic universals; Greenbergian implicational universals; grammars; Government-Binding tradition; language use

@incollection{hawkins09LUchapter,
  author={John A. Hawkins},
  title={Language Universals and the Performance-Grammar Correspondence Hypothesis},
  year={2009},
  pages={54-79},
  chapter={4},
  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/hawkins09LUchapter.html},
  keywords={syntax; relative clauses; linguistic universals; Greenbergian implicational universals; grammars; Government-Binding tradition; language use}
}