Case

Mark Baker's Case offers a unified theory of morphological case, exploring its role in syntactic structure across various languages.

In Case, Mark Baker introduces a comprehensive theory of morphological case, a crucial aspect of how languages convey the role of noun phrases within sentences. This work stands out as the first extensive examination of dependent case assignment, providing readers with a rich array of data drawn from over twenty unrelated languages. Baker's approach not only highlights the intricacies of case marking but also underscores its significance in linguistic structure.

The author meticulously develops a unified theory that explains how the morphological case of noun phrases is influenced by their syntactic arrangement. This theory is designed to accommodate various alignment types, including accusative, ergative, tripartite, marked nominative, and marked absolutive. By rigorously testing his ideas against a diverse range of languages, Baker offers a robust framework that enhances our understanding of case assignment across different linguistic systems.

Case is tailored for both academic researchers and students, blending formal-generative concepts with accessibility for a broader audience interested in linguistics. While the book affirms that case can be assigned through agreement with function words, it also delves deeply into the concept of dependent case, presenting a nuanced view of how case operates within language. This comprehensive study promises to be an invaluable resource for anyone looking to explore the complexities of morphological case in depth.