Sarah M. B. Fagan Boeken

Designed for undergraduate students of German, this textbook offers a structured vocabulary across twenty thematic units, addressing various aspects of life such as physical, social, cultural, economic, and political contexts. Vocabulary is categorized into three graded levels for ease of learning, complemented by extensive exercises to enhance retention and understanding. Its clear organization makes it suitable for both classroom settings and independent study, catering to diverse course requirements in undergraduate programs.

Focusing on the structure and sociolinguistics of German, this book serves as a comprehensive guide for students studying the language and linguistics. It explores the intricacies of German grammar, syntax, and phonetics while also addressing the social aspects that influence language use and variation within different communities. Through its detailed analysis, the text aims to enhance understanding of both the linguistic features and the cultural contexts that shape the German language.

Focusing on German reflexive constructions, this study offers an in-depth analysis of their syntax and semantics, specifically examining the unique characteristics known as middles. It provides a thorough exploration of how these constructions function within the language, contributing to a greater understanding of their grammatical structures and meanings.

"The study addresses a number of issues in the syntax of Modern German relevant to our understanding of universal grammar: 1. Lack of evidence for a class of ergative predicates in German suggests that while it is an option, ergativity is not instantiated in all grammars. 2. Impersonal clauses provide evidence that German allows subjectless clauses, suggesting that the Extended Projection Principle cannot be maintained as universal. 3. Reflexives in German are shown to be independent words capable of filling argument positions. Because they do not bear 0-roles in middle constructions, they provide evidence against the claim that complement positions are always 0-marked." "Although this study is carried out in the Government-Binding framework, the wealth of language data and descriptive detail presented here will be valuable to linguists working in any theoretical framework."--BOOK JACKET.