Leading grammar expert Micheal Swan provides readers with a contemporary overview of what grammar is, with reference to English and other languages. The book examines a range of questions such as, What is grammar for? How does it relate to vocabulary? How does it change? How does it differ across languages? What do we mean by correct and incorrect? Grammar provides an original insight into the fascinating and complex world of language.
1. What is grammar?
2. From Simplicity to complexity: word classes and structures
3. Grammar in the world's languges
4. Grammar and vocaburary
5. Grammar in spoken and written text
6. Grammar and languge change
7. Grammar in society: correctness and standardization
8. Grammar in the head