Rhythmic grammar

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This groundbreaking work emphasizes the Principle of Rhythmic Alternation as a key factor in grammatical variation and change in English from the early modern period to the present. It reveals how the phonetically motivated avoidance of adjacent stresses influences various phenomena in morphology and syntax, a factor often overlooked in previous research. Through in-depth analyses of extensive electronic databases, the book presents 20 studies across different structural categories, addressing both well-known and novel issues. Topics include the double comparative "worser," 'predicative only' a-adjectives, variant past participles, the placement of the degree modifier "quite," and the order of conjuncts in binomials, among others. The findings provide qualitative and quantitative evidence of rhythmic alternation's significance in synchronic variation and diachronic change, while also considering interactions with competing functional tendencies. This work calls for a reevaluation of current views on the interface between phonology and morphosyntax. Additionally, it critically assesses two nonmodular linguistic theories—Optimality Theory and spreading activation models—developing a comprehensive framework that integrates functional factors like the Principle of Rhythmic Alternation. The diverse subject areas covered make this volume essential for linguists interested in phonology-morphosyntax, English grammar, the history of En