The Oxford Handbook of Universal Grammar

This handbook provides a critical guide to the most central proposition in modern linguistics: the notion, generally known as Universal Grammar, that a universal set of structural principles underlies the grammatical diversity of the world's languages. Part I considers the implications of Universal Grammar for philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, and examines the history of the theory. Part II focuses on linguistic theory, looking at topics such as explanatory adequacy and how phonology and semantics fit into Universal Grammar. Parts III and IV look respectively at the insights derived from UG-inspired research on language acquisition, and at comparative syntax and language typology, while part V considers the evidence for Universal Grammar in phenomena such as creoles, language pathology, and sign language. The book will be a vital reference for linguists, philosophers, and cognitive scientists.

1 - Introduction
2 - Universal Grammar and Philosophy of Mind
3 - Universal Grammar and Philosophy of Language
4 - On the History of Universal Grammar
5 - The Concept of Explanatory Adequacy
6 - Third-factor Explanations and Universal Grammar
7 - Formal and Functional Explanation
8 - Phonology in Universal Grammar
9 - Semantics in Universal Grammar
10 - The Argument from the Poverty of the Stimulus
11 - Learnability
12 - First Language Acquisition
13 - The Role of Universal Grammar in Non-native Language Acquisition
14 - Principles and Parameters of Universal Grammar
15 - Linguistic Typology
16 - Parameter Theory and Parametric Comparison
17 - A Null Theory of Creole Formation Based on Universal Grammar
18 - Language Change
19 - Language Pathology
20 - The Syntax of Sign Language and Universal Grammar
21 - Looking for UG in Animals: A Case Study in Phonology

Ian Roberts is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Cambridge, having previously held posts in Geneva, Bangor, and Stuttgart. He was president of Generative Linguistics of the Old World (GLOW) in 1993-2001, and of the Societas Linguistica Europaea in 2012-13. He is currently Principle Investigator on the European Research Council Advanced Grant 'Rethinking Comparative Syntax'. He has published six monographs and two textbooks, including Diachronic Syntax (OUP, 2007), and has edited several collections of articles.