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468 LANGUAGE, VOLUME 76, NUMBER 2 (2000) (85). In Ch. 7, R revisits ground that he has covered before in examining thematic roles in Shakespeare. As in much of R's work, the linguistic framework adopted is that of Walter J. Cook's case grammar. What is interesting here is R'sjuxtaposition ofa deep case examination of Shakespeare in English with a translation of Shakespeare into Finnish, a language with surface cases, resulting in one ofthe best explorations of deep and surface case yet. The theme of deep case, particularly agentivity, and translation continues in Ch. 8, where R examines a Finnish popularization of Othello. Thematic roles also constitute the center of R's analysis of Dreiser's fiction in Ch. 9. The book concludes with a summary ofChs. 2-9. While the shortcomings of the book at times show through R's excellent scholarship and precise analysis , the strengths, which far outnumber the weaknesses , reveal themselves continually as one reads. This book will enhance any linguist's personal library . It is a must for researchers in discourse analysis , pragmatics, text linguistics, stylistics, and, especially, thematic roles. [Carl Mills, University of Cincinnati.] Case, typology and grammar: In honor of Barry J. Blake. Ed. by Anna Siewierska and Jae Jung Song. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 1998. Pp. 379. Written in honor of Barry J. Blake on the occasion of his 60th birthday, this book is a collection of fifteen papers, written by students, colleagues, and kindred spirits, on a variety of topics that fall within Blake's wide-ranging research interests. Nine papers are concerned with grammar and typology . These differ greatly in their subject matter but share a similar theoretical orientation towards functionalism and typology. Keith Allen looks at the semantic frames ofbe and have in English within the framework of RRG. Byron W. Bender gives a very general discussion of markedness and iconicity. Kate Burridge examines the complex relationship between Pennsylvania German and English. Bernard Comrie and Maria Polinsky provide an entertaining piece on Daghestan case, debunking the myth ofits record-setting number of cases. Richard Hudson discusses control in verbs like persuade orforce and draws a number of general conclusions for syntactic theory. Andrew Pawley and Jonathan Lane analyze serial verb constructions in Kalam and argue that discourse structure is reflected in their grammar. Anna Siewierska explores two diachronic pathways proposed for the development of ergativity: the passive and the ergative. Jae Jung Song looks at benefactive marking in Oceanic languages and shows that nonverbal marking is more common than generally thought. Sandra A. Thompson gives a discourse explanation for widespread crosslinguistic differences in the marking of interrogation and negation. Six papers concern Australian aboriginal languages , Blake's area of speciality. Peter Austin looks at the in-progress grammaticaUzation of continuous aspect from a lexical root meaning 'sit' in Jiwarli. Edith L. Bavin shows how language acquisition data from Warlpiri reveal that very young children are sensitive to typological characteristics of their language. Nicholas Evans looks at Iwaidja, the only known case of an Australian language that uses initial mutation as a grammatical process. William McGregor describes applicatives in Warrwa. Stanley Starosta gives an ergative analysis of three Formosan languages (Atayal, Tsou, and Yami) within the framework of lexicase and extends his analysis to Acehnese. Tasaku Tsunoda discusses applicative construction in Warrungu. My only quibble is with the book's numerous editing errors. The table of contents, for example, contains errors that range from the rather absurd (e.g. 'Great Daghestan Case Coax' instead of the 'Great Daghestan Case Hoax') to the sublimely bad (e.g. the use of the title "The Verbal Suffix -ngany in Warrwa ' for what is titled 'Applicative Constructions in Warrwa' in the body). Probably any linguist will find something here of interest (although the book will appeal primarily to those with a typological or functionalist bent), but Australianists in particular will relish it, not only because of the number of papers that deal with Australian languages but also because it pays homage to one of their most accomplished colleagues. [Stuart Robinson, Australian National University.] Understanding syntax. By Maggie Tallerman. London: Arnold, 1998. Pp. 226. Maggie Tallerman's Understanding syntax (a new addition to...

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