Abstract

In this chapter, a description is given of some of the work in diachronic generative syntax. Because the field is over 50 years old, an overview of some of the changes it has undergone is necessary. Formal linguistics is often opposed to functional linguistics, with the main difference being that language is seen in terms of communication in the latter but not the former. I will focus on generative syntax as one instantiation of ‘formal’ syntax and will not discuss the differences very much (see Newmeyer 1998 for an excellent account). Although there are other models (e.g. Lexical Functional Grammar ¹ and Head Driven Phrase Structure Grammar), I will only discuss the generative approach.