Analyzing Japanese Syntax: A Generative Perspective

This introductory textbook explains the basic ideas and the core notions entertained in the most influential syntactic theory of generative grammar and shows how Japanese syntax can be analyzed using concrete examples from a range of phenomena. Each chapter provides concise and accessible illustrations of how the theoretical methods can be applied to the analysis of various grammatical constructions, as well as offering brief remarks on descriptive and theoretical issues for further research. Generous exercises, which may be useful for checking the reader's understanding, are also available at the textbook webpage. These combined textbook materials allow readers to have hands-on training in linguistic analysis, and to become familiar with the recent methods and concepts underlying the analysis of natural language syntax. This textbook is an essential guide to those who are interested in starting scientific research on Japanese syntax without a prior knowledge of generative grammar.