A Performance Theory of Order and Constituency

In this major new book John A. Hawkins presents a new theory of linear ordering in syntax. He argues that processing can provide a simple functional explanation for syntactic rules of ordering as well as for the selection among ordering variants in languages and structures in which variation is possible. Insights from generative syntax typological studies of language universals and psycholinguistic studies of language processing are combined to show that there is a profound correspondence between performance and grammar.