First Published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Patrick Farrell shows how grammatical relations are characterized in competing theories of grammar and reveals the different theories' merits and limitations. He compares mainstream generative-transformational theory with formalist and functionalist approaches, showing points of convergence and divergence. This is an ideal introduction to the field for graduate students and will be a useful reference for theoretical syntacticians of all persuasions.

Patrick Farrell explains how grammatical relations are characterized in modern theories of grammar. He describes the historical development and conceptual precedents of competing theories and, ranging across a wide variety of languages, considers what their merits and limitations are in different contexts. He examines their conceptions of relations such as subject, object, indirect object, agent, patient, and actor, and their accounts of such syntactic phenomena as ergativity, split intransitivity, voice alternations, and case marking. Professor Farrell compares mainstream generative-transformational approaches with both formalist and functionalist alternative approaches, revealing points of convergence and divergence. He identifies and discusses problems and issues of continuing concern and considers how these might be resolved. This is an ideal introduction for graduate students and will be a valuable reference for theoretical linguists of all persuasions. Oxford Surveys in Syntax and Morphology General editor: Robert D. Van Valin, Jr. Advisory editors: Guglielmo Cinque, University of Venice; Daniel Everett, University of Manchester; Adele Goldberg, Princeton University; Kees Hengeveld, University of Amsterdam; Caroline Heycock, University of Edinburgh; David Pesetsky, MIT; Ian Roberts, University of Cambridge; Masayoshi Shibatani, Rice University; Andrew Spencer, University of Essex; Tom Wasow, Stanford University This series provides surveys of the major approaches to subjects and questions at the centre of linguistic research in morphosyntax. Its volumes are accessible, critical, and up-to-date. Individually and collectively they reveal the value of the field's intellectual history and theoretical diversity. The books provide graduate students of syntax, morphology and related aspects of semantics with a vital source of information and reference, and are designed for use in graduate courses. They give the context by which specialist articles can be fully understood. They provide useful background reading for advanced undergraduates researching a specific area. Published Grammatical Relations by Patrick Farrell In preparation Phrase Structure by Andrew Carnie Syntactic Categories by Gisa Rauh Morphology and the Lexicon by Daniel Everett The Phonology-Morphology Interface by Sharon Inkelas Argument Structure: The Syntax-Lexicon Interface by Stephen Weschler The Syntax-Semantics Interface by Jean-Pierre Koenig Information Structure: the Syntax-Discourse Interface by Nomi Erteschik-Shir Language Universals and Universal Grammar by Anna Siewierska Syntactic Change by Olga Fischer Computational Approaches to Syntax and Morphology by Brian Roark and Richard Sproat The Acquisition of Syntax and Morphology by Shanley Allen and Heike Behrens

In recent years grammatical relations have come to play a prominent role in linguistic theories. This volume brings together papers that address a variety of theoretical issues involving grammatical relations, drawing on data from a broad range of natural languages. Many of the papers employ analytical devices from linguistic theories such as relational grammar, arc pair grammar, lexical functional grammar, government and binding theory, or head-driven phrase structure grammar. Other papers take a more eclectic stance. The contributors include: Farrell Ackerman, Chris Barker, Joan Bresnan, Diana Cresti, Christopher Culy, William D. Davies, Anna Maria di Sciullo, Stanley Dubinsky, Katarzyna Dziwirek, Patrick Farrell, Kazuhiko Fukushima, Andrew Garrett, Donna Gerdts, Jorge Hankamer, Ki-Sun Hong, Eloise Jelinek, Geraldine Legendre, Errapel Mejias-Bikandi, William McClure, Ignazio Mirto, John Moore, Rosanne Pelletier, Marial Polinsky, Paul Postal, Eduardo Raposo, Richard Rhodes, Carol Rosen, Sara Thomas Rosen, Peter Sells, Juan Uriagereka, Lindsay Whaley, and Annie Zaenen. Katarzyna Dziwirek is a graduate student in linguistics at the University of California, San Diego. Patrick Farrell is acting assistant professor of linguistics at the University of California, San Diego. Errapel Mejias-Bikandi is a graduate student in linguistics at the University of California, San Diego.