A mathematical formalization of Chomsky’s theory of Merge in generative linguistics.The Minimalist Program advanced by Noam Chomsky thirty years ago, focusing on the biological nature of human language, has played a central role in our modern understanding of syntax. One key to this program is the notion that the hierarchical structure of human language syntax consists of a single operation Merge. For the first time, Mathematical Structure of Syntactic Merge

Noam Chomsky and Robert Berwick draw on recent developments in linguistic theory to offer an evolutionary account of language and our remarkable, species-specific ability to acquire it.“A loosely connected collection of four essays that will fascinate anyone interested in the extraordinary phenomenon of language.”—New York Review of BooksWe are born crying, but those cries signal the first stirring of language. Within a year...

The goal of this contribution to the Elements series is to closely examine Merge, its form, its function, and its central role in current linguistic theory. It explores what it does (and does not do), why it has the form it has, and its development over time. The basic idea behind Merge is quite simple. However, Merge interacts, in intricate ways, with other components including the language's interfaces, laws of nature, and certain language-specific conditions. Because of this, and becaus...

This examination of six usurper kings of England, and the people and circumstances surrounding them, is "a masterpiece of academic scholarship" ( Midwest Book Review).In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy—and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England's reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval ...

"This well-researched, well-told story takes readers into a world of espionage, industrial ingenuity, and American resilience . . . a compelling history." —Robert Whitaker, author of Anatomy of an EpidemicSilver Medal Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award for History (World)In 1940, with German U-boats blockading all commerce across the Atlantic Ocean, a fireball at the Crown Cork and Seal factory lit the sky over Baltimore....

A history of pivotal military and political events in Ancient Rome from 425 to 457 BC.Military History of Late Rome 425–457 analyses in great detail how the Romans coped with the challenge posed by masses of Huns in a situation in which the Germanic tribes had gained a permanent foothold in the territories of West Rome. This analysis reassesses the strategy and tactics of the period. The book shows how cooperation between the West Roman Master of Soldiers, ...

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY ESQUIRE, THE IRISH TIMES AND THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT**SHORTLISTED FOR THE PEN HESSELL-TILTMAN PRIZEA provocative history of men who were worshipped as gods that illuminates the connection between power and religion and the role of divinity in a secular age.**Ever since 1492, when Christopher Columbus made landfall in the New World and was hailed as a heavenly being, the accidental god ...

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice**2021 Hooks National Book Award WinnerThe fascinating, forgotten story of the 1970s attempt to build a city dedicated to racial equality in the heart of “Klan Country”**In 1969, with America’s cities in turmoil and racial tensions high, civil rights leader Floyd McKissick announced an audacious plan: he would build a new city in rural North Carolina, open to all but intended prima...

The sensational true story of George Dinning, a freed slave, who in 1899 joined forces with a Confederate war hero in search of justice in the Jim Crow south. “Taut and tense. Inspiring and terrifying in its timelessness.”(Colson Whitehead, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad )Named a most anticipated book of 2021 by O, The Oprah MagazineNamed a "must-read" by the Chicago Review of Books

A necessary communication guide for the “fake news” era—with practical advice, strategies, and scripts for engaging in productive political discourse with the misinformed.Flat earthers, anti-vaxxers, climate change disbelievers . . . Can we change the minds of science deniers?“Climate change is a hoax—and so is coronavirus.” “Vaccines are bad for you.” These days, many of our fellow citizens reject scientific expertise and prefer ideology t...

What would it be like if you were transported back to Thebes, 1360 BCE? This time-traveler's guide is a fascinating way to find out . . .Imagine you were transported back in time to Ancient Egypt and you had to start a new life there. What would you see? How would the people around you think and believe? How would you fit in? Where would you live? What would you eat? Where would you go to have your hair done, or get help if you got ill or were mugged in the street?

The INSTANT New York Times BestsellerWinner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for BiographyWinner of the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld AwardWinner of the Chautauqua PrizeFinalist for the Los Angeles Times Book AwardFinalist for the Plutarch AwardA New York Times Notable Book of 2021A New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceA New York Time...