Minimum of English Grammar, Volume I provides comprehensive exploration of Feature Theory Grammar, which breaks down the components of traditional ""parts-of-speech"" words, allowing for fine-grained analysis. Minimum of English Grammar correlates Feature Theory Grammar to the Periodic Table, tinkering with sub-particles of words to show how isolated features project one phrase over another, and contribute to particular phrasings. The book presents the kind of theoretical syntax that is highly regarded among Chomskyan linguists.

Minimum of English Grammar, Volume I is divided into three sections:



Section I begins by analyzing the segments of language in a systematic way, recognizing both lexical and functional categorization. It addresses part of speech, movement and constituency, and common grammatical errors.
Section II covers general questions surrounding linguistic phenomena. Particular attention is given to how a feature driven account can assist in understanding specific language disorders and historical language change. This section of the text includes a stand-alone chapter on the nature of child language acquisition.
Section III is devoted to phonology, and the (American) English International Phonetic Alphabet. It includes anecdotal evidence calling for a dual mechanism model of phonological representation. The final chapter discusses the use of tree diagramming in phonology.


Minimum of English Grammar, Volume I is an excellent introductory text for students of linguistics, syntax, and morphology.