Cambridge Grammar of the English Language » (New Edition)

Rodney Huddleston graduated from the University of Cambridge in Modern & Medieval Languages in 1960, and earned his PhD in Applied Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh in
1963. He held lectureships at the University of Edinburgh, University College London and the University of Reading, before moving in 1969 to the Department of English at the University of Queensland, where he worked until formally retiring in
1998. He was the winner of one of three 'Excellence in Teaching' awards at the University of Queensland in 1988, and in 1990 was awarded a Personal Chair. He has written numerous articles and books on English grammar, including An Introduction to English Transformational Syntax (1976) and Introduction to the Grammar of English (1984), and was the founding editor of The Australian Journal of Linguistics (1980--1985).

Geoffrey K. Pullum earned his B.A. in Language at the University of York in 1972 and his Ph.D. in General Linguistics at the University of London four years later. After teaching at University College London for seven years he moved to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he served as Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for six years and is currently Professor of Linguistics. He was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences in 1990-91. His numerous publications cover not only syntactic theory and English grammar but also on a large number of other topics in linguistics. His books include Generalized Phrase Structure Grammar (1985, with Gazdar, Klein, and Sag) and a collection of satirical essays on linguistics, The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax (1991).

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language is the first comprehensive descriptive grammar of English to appear for over fifteen years, a period which has seen immense developments in linguistic theory at all levels. The principal authors, Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum, are among the world's leading scholars in this area, and they have benefited from the expertise of an international team of distinguished contributors in preparing what will be the definitive grammar for decades to come. Each chapter comprises core definitions, detailed analyses, notes explaining alternative interpretations of difficult or controversial points, and brief notes on usage and history. Numerous cross-references and an exhaustive index ensure ease of access to information. An introductory section offers guidance as to how best to use the book is provided. Rodney Huddleston was until recently Professor in the Linguistics section of the Department of English at the University of Queensland, Australia, and has been publishing important books and papers on English grammar for thirty years. Geoffrey K. Pullum is Professor of Linguistics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is the author of 200 articles and books on English grammar and a variety of other topics in theoretical and applied linguistics.

Library Journal

Although the title may suggest that this is a usage manual or style guide, it is actually a reference work that, in the authors' words, aims to "outline and illustrate the principles that govern the construction of words and sentences...without recommending or condemning particular usage choices." With help from an impressive group of international scholars, linguistics professors Huddleston (English Grammar: An Outline) and Pullum (Phonetic Symbol Guide) here provide a comprehensive and detailed look at the principles of the English language. Chapters are divided into several subsections, with ample examples and explanations for each concept; both a conceptual and a lexical index are included. Although the writers attempt to "bridge a gap...between traditional grammar and the partial descriptions of English grammar proposed by those working in the field of linguistics," the book leans heavily toward the field of linguistics. This makes it more accessible to the informed student of linguistics than to the simple lover of the English language. It is nevertheless an authoritative addition to the fields of both English grammar and linguistics. Recommended for all academic libraries.-Manya S. Chylinski, Ernst & Young Ctr. for Business, Boston Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.