People

Professor Robert Borsley

Emeritus Professor

Department of Language and Linguistics

Email
rborsley@essex.ac.uk
Location

Colchester Campus

Profile

Biography

He studied Linguistics and Philosophy at the University of Wales Bangor, and did his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh. His research interests are in syntactic theory (especially HPSG), and the syntax of Welsh and Polish. He was formerly Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales Bangor, where he worked from 1986 to 2000. He is the author of Syntactic Theory: A Unified Approach (Edward Arnold, 1991/1999), Modern Phrase Structure Grammar (Blackwell, 1996), Welsh Negation and Grammatical Theory (University of Wales Press, 2005) (with Bob Morris Jones), and The Syntax of Welsh (Cambridge University Press. 2007) (with Maggie Tallerman and David Willis). He is editor of The Nature and Function of Syntactic Categories (Academic Press, 2000) and co-editor (with Ian Roberts) of The Syntax of the Celtic Languages (Cambridge University Press, 1996), (with Adam Przepiorkowski) of Slavic in Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar (CSLI, 1999),and (with Kersti Börjars) of Nontransformational Syntax: Formal and Explicit Models of Grammar (Wiley, 2011). He was also an editor of Journal of Linguistics, the journal of the Linguistics Association of Great Britain from 1994 to 2016. He retired at the end of January 2017.

Qualifications

Ph.D. University of Edinburgh,

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Syntax (negation, coordination, unbounded dependencies, and agreement)

Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG)

Celtic/Slavonic Languages

Principles and Parameters Theory

Relevance Theory

Philosophy of Linguistics

Teaching and supervision

Previous supervision

Unaisa Khir Eldeen

Thesis title: But and its Arabic Counterparts: A Relevance Theoretic Account
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 6/7/2018

Abeer Saleh A Alsulami

Thesis title: Comparative Constructions in Modern Standard Arabic (Msa): An Hpsg Approach
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 28/6/2018

Ahmad Samir D Alotaibi

Thesis title: The Copula in Arabic: Description and Analysis
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 17/1/2018

Mansour Qazan S Alotaibi

Thesis title: Wh-Questions in Modern Standard Arabic: Minimalist and Hpsg Approaches
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 28/7/2015

Nushour JYMA Alduaij

Thesis title: The Development of Pragmatic Competence By Intermediate and Advanced Kuwaiti Learners of English, the Case of Producing the Speech Act of Requesting
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 9/10/2014

Abdulrahman Abdullah S Althawab

Thesis title: Modality in English and Arabic: Description and Analysis
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/7/2014

Mansour Qazan S Alotaibi

Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Master of Research
Awarded date: 26/11/2013

Mohamed M MoUSA Krer

Thesis title: Negation in Standard and Libyan Arabic: An Hpsg Approach
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 18/11/2013

Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Aziz Alqurashi

Thesis title: Arabic Relative Clauses and Free Relatives: A Minimalist and an Hpsg Approach
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 14/10/2013

Saaed A Saaed Saaed

Thesis title: Binomials in Modern Standard Arabic with Reference to English: An Investigation of Ordering Constraints
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 19/6/2013

Issa Saad Al-Qurashi

Thesis title: Nominal Phrases in Modern Standard Arabic: Minimalist and Hpsg Approaches
Degree subject: Linguistics
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 22/4/2013

Publications

Journal articles (76)

Borsley, RD., (2022). Why do we need another book about unbounded dependencies? A review article on Chaves & Putnam’s Unbounded Dependency Constructions. Journal of Linguistics. 58 (1), 203-224

Borsley, RD., (2020). Kate Scott, Billy Clark & Robyn Carston (eds.), Relevance, pragmatics and interpretation: Essays in honour of Deirdre Wilson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. xvii + 259.. Journal of Linguistics. 56 (4), 917-921

Borsley, RD., (2020). Thomas Hoffmann, English comparative correlatives: Diachronic and synchronic variation at the lexicon–syntax interface. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. xvii + 259.. Journal of Linguistics. 56 (3), 691-695

Borsley, RD., (2020). Andrew Radford, Relative clauses: Structure and variation in everyday English (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics 161). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. Pp. xi + 314.. Journal of Linguistics. 56 (1), 217-222

Borsley, RD., (2015). Apparent filler–gap mismatches in Welsh. Linguistics. 53 (5), 995-1029

Borsley, RD., (2015). Introduction. Butler and Ethics. 32, 1-6

Borsley, RD., (2013). On the nature of Welsh unbounded dependencies. Lingua. 133, 1-29

Borsley, RD., (2012). Don't Move!. Iberia: An International Journal of Theoretical Linguistics. 4 (1), 110-139

Borsley, RD., (2011). Constructions, functional heads and comparative correlatives. Empirical Issues in Syntax and Semantics. 8, 7-26

Borsley, RD., (2010). Natural language syntax. Language. 86 (4), 945-948

Borsley, RD. and Newmeyer, FJ., (2009). On Subject-Auxiliary Inversion and the notion “purely formal generalization”. Cognitive Linguistics. 20 (1), 135-143

Borsley, RD., (2009). On so-called transitive expletives in Belfast English. English Language and Linguistics. 13 (03), creators-Borsley=3ARobert_D=3A=3A

BORSLEY, RD., (2009). On so-called transitive expletives in Belfast English. English Language and Linguistics. 13 (3), 409-431

Levine, RD., (2009). Robert D. Levine & Thomas E. Hukari, The unity of unbounded dependency constructions (CSLI Lecture Notes 166). Stanford, CA: Center for the Study of Language and Information, 2006. Pp. x+406.. Journal of Linguistics. 45 (1), 232-238

Borsley, RD., (2007). . Lingua. 117 (4), 741-749

Borsley, RD., (2006). On the nature of Welsh VSO clauses. Lingua. 116 (4), 462-490

Abeill�, A. and Borsley, RD., (2006). La syntaxe des corrélatives comparatives en anglais et en français. Faits de langue. 28, 21-33

Borsley, RD., Roberts, I., Sadler, L. and Willis, D., (2006). Introduction. Lingua. 116 (11), 1745-1749

(2006). Celtic Linguistics. Lingua: International Review of General Linguistics. 116 (11), 1745-2022

Borsley, RD., (2006). Skeptical Linguistic Essays (review). Language. 82 (2), 442-446

Borsley, RD., (2005). Introduction - Data in Theoretical Linguistics. Lingua. 115 (11), 1475-1480

Borsley, RD., (2005). Against ConjP. Lingua. 115 (4), 461-482

Borsley, RD., (2005). Les coordinations relevant-elles de la syntaxe X-barre?. Langages. 39 (160), 25-41

(2005). Data in Theoretical Linguistics. Lingua: International Review of General Linguistics. 115 (11), 1475-1665

Borsley, RD., (2005). Les coordinations relèvent-elles de la syntaxe X-barre ?. Langages. n° 160 (4), 25-41

Borsley, RD., (2005). Introduction. Lingua. 115 (11), 1475-1480

Schmitz, JR., (2004). Taking linguistics seriously: on the varied dimensions of applied linguistics. Lingua. 114 (2), 95-99

Borsley, RD. and Ingham, R., (2004). A response to Schmitz. Lingua. 114 (2), 101-103

Borsley, RD. and Ingham, R., (2003). More on ‘some applied linguists’: a response to Stubbs. Lingua. 113 (3), 193-196

Borsley, RD. and Ingham, R., (2002). Grow your own linguistics? On some applied linguists' views of the subject. Lingua. 112 (1), 1-6

Borsley, RD. and Jones, BM., (2001). The Development of Finiteness in Early Welsh. Journal of Celtic Language Learning. 6, 9-20

Borsley, RD., (2001). What do Prepositional Complementizers do?. Probus. 13 (2), 155-171

Borsley, RD. and Kornfilt, J., (2000). Mixed extended projections. Syntax and Semantics. 32, 101-131

Borsley, RD. and Kathol, A., (2000). Breton as a V2 language. Linguistics. 38 (368), 665-710

Borsley, RD., (1999). Mutation and constituent structure in Welsh. Lingua. 109 (4), 267-300

Borsley, RD., (1997). Relative clauses and the theory of phrase structure. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY. 28 (4), 629-647

Borsley, RD., (1997). Mutation and Case in Welsh. Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique. 42 (1-2), 31-56

Borsley, RD., (1995). On Some Similarities and Differences between Welsh and Syrian Arabic. Linguistics: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the Language Sciences. 33 (1 [335]), 99-122

BORSLEY, RD., (1995). On some similarities and differences between Welsh and Syrian Arabic. Linguistics. 33 (1), 99-122

Borsley, RD. and Rivero, MAL., (1994). Clitic auxiliaries and incorporation. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory. 12 (3), 373-422

Borsley, RD., (1994). Mutation in Welsh. Lingua. 93 (2-3), 227-230

Borsley, RD., (1994). Editorial Note. Journal of Linguistics. 30 (1), 1-1

Borsley, RD., (1992). Redefining linguistics. Lingua. 88 (1), 67-71

Borsley, RD., (1992). More on the difference between English restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses. Journal of Linguistics. 28 (1), 139-148

Borsley, RD., (1990). The language machine. Lingua. 80 (4), 359-362

Borsley, RD., (1989). J. Koster. Domains and dynasties: the radical autonomy of syntax. Dordrecht: Foris, 1987. Pp. ix + 400.. Journal of Linguistics. 25 (2), 526-531

Borsley, RD. and Stephens, J., (1989). Agreement and the position of subjects in Breton. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory. 7 (3), 407-427

BORSLEY, RD., (1989). WELSH SYNTAX - A GOVERNMENT BINDING APPROACH - SADLER,L. LINGUISTICS. 27 (6), 1125-1128

Borsley, RD., (1989). Phrase-Structure Grammar and the Barriers Conception of Clause Structure. Linguistics: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the Language Sciences. 27 (5 [303]), 843-863

BORSLEY, RD., (1989). Phrase-structure grammar and the Barriers conception of clause structure. Linguistics. 27 (5), 843-864

Borsley, RD. and Jaworska, E., (1989). On Polish PPs. Linguistics: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the Language Sciences. 27 (2 [300]), 245-256

BORSLEY, RD. and JAWORSKA, EWA., (1989). On Polish PPs. Linguistics. 27 (2), 245-256

Borsley, RD., (1989). Language in mind and language in society. Lingua. 78 (1), 95-98

Borsley, RD., (1989). An HPSG approach to Welsh. Journal of Linguistics. 25 (2), 333-354

BORSLEY, RD., (1989). A NOTE ON ELLIPSIS AND CASE. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY. 20 (1), 125-130

Borsley, RD., (1989). R. Hendrick, Anaphora in Celtic and universal grammar. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 1988. Pp. xi+ 284.. Journal of Linguistics. 25 (2), 498-502

Borsley, RD., (1988). GPSG and Welsh Clause Structure. Linguistics: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the Language Sciences. 26 (3 [295]), 365-382

BORSLEY, RD., (1988). GPSG and Welsh clause structure. Linguistics. 26 (3), 365-382

BORSLEY, RD. and JAWORSKA, E., (1988). A NOTE ON PREPOSITIONS AND CASE MARKING IN POLISH. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY. 19 (4), 685-691

Borsley, RD., (1988). A note on impersonal passives. Journal of Linguistics. 24 (2), 483-487

Borsley, RD., (1987). [Syntactic Categories]. Lingua: International Review of General Linguistics. 73 (4), 313-332

Borsley, RD., (1987). A unified theory of syntactic categories. Lingua. 73 (4), 313-318

Borsley, RD., (1987). A note on ‘traditional treatments’ of Welsh. Journal of Linguistics. 23 (1), 185-190

Borsley, RD., (1986). Word grammar. Lingua. 69 (3), 283-287

Borsley, RD., (1986). Prepositional complementizers in Welsh. Journal of Linguistics. 22 (1), 67-84

Borsley, RD., (1984). VP complements: evidence from Welsh. Journal of Linguistics. 20 (2), 277-302

Borsley, RD., (1983). Pauline Jacobson and Geoffrey K. Pullum (eds), The nature of syntactic representation. (Synthese Language Library, Vol. 15.) Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1982. Pp. xix + 479.. Journal of Linguistics. 19 (2), 495-498

BORSLEY, RD., (1983). A NOTE ON THE GENERALIZED LEFT BRANCH CONDITION. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY. 14 (1), 168-174

BORSLEY, RD., (1983). A NOTE ON PREPOSITION STRANDING. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY. 14 (2), 338-343

Borsley, RD., (1981). Wh-movement and unbounded deletion in Polish equatives. Journal of Linguistics. 17 (2), 271-288

Borsley, RD. and Jaworska, E., (1981). Some Remarks on Equatives and Related Phenomena. Studia Anglica Posnaniensia: An International Review of English Studies. 13, 79-108

BORSLEY, RD., (1981). ON MOVEMENT OUT OF COMP. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY. 12 (4), 655-659

BORSLEY, RD. and HORN, GM., (1981). On ‘On binding’. Linguistics. 19 (11-12), 1133-1164

Borsley, RD., (1980). In defence of single mothers. Journal of Linguistics. 16 (1), 95-101

PULLUM, GK. and BORSLEY, RD., (1980). Comments on the two central claims of ‘trace theory’. Linguistics. 18 (1-2), 73-104

Borsley, RD., (1979). Some Remarks on Heads. Studia Anglica Posnaniensia: An International Review of English Studies. 11, 3-13

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Books (8)

Borsley, RD. and Börjars, K., Non-Transformational Syntax: Formal and Explicit Models of Grammar. Wiley. 9780631209652

Borsley, R., (2014). Syntactic Theory. Routledge. 9781138178458

(2011). Non-Transformational Syntax. Wiley-Blackwell. 9780631209652

Borsley, RD. and Börjars, K., (2011). Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell. 9780631209652

Borsley, RD., Tallerman, M. and Willis, D., (2007). The Syntax of Welsh. Cambridge University Press. 0521836301. 9780521836302

Borsley, RD. and Jones, BM., (2005). Welsh Negation and Grammatical Theory. University of Wales Press. 9780708318836

Borsley, RD., (1997). Syntax-Theorie: Ein zusammengefaßter Zugang. Max Niemeyer Verlag GmbH & Co.. 9783484220553

Borsley, RD., (1991). Syntactic Theory: A Unified Approach. Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd.

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Book chapters (18)

Borsley, RD., (2016). HPSG and the nature of agreement in Archi. In: Archi: Complexities of Agreement in Cross-theoretical Perspective. Editors: Bond, O., Brown, D., Chumakina, M. and Corbett, GG., . Oxford University Press. 9780198747291

Alqurashi, A. and Borsley, RD., (2014). The Comparative Correlative Construction in Modern Standard Arabic. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar, University at Buffalo. Editors: M�ller, S., . CSLI Publications. 6- 26

Arnold, D. and Borsley, RD., (2014). On the Analysis of English Exhaustive Conditionals. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar, University at Buffalo. Editors: M�ller, S., . CSLI Publications. 27- 47

Alotaibi, M. and Borsley, RD., (2013). Gaps and Resumptive Pronouns in Modern Standard Arabic. In: Proceedings of the HPSG13 Conference. Editors: Muller, S., . CSLI Publications. 6- 26

Alqurashi, A. and Borsley, RD., (2012). Arabic Relative Clauses in HPSG. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar. Editors: M�ller, S., . CSLI Publications. 26- 44

Borsley, RD., (2011). Free relatives in Polish and English. In: Contrastive Linguistics: Prospects and Problems. Mouton. 1- 18. 9789027932600

Arnold, D. and Borsley, RD., (2010). Auxiliary-Stranding Relative Clauses. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar, Paris University Paris Diderot, France. Editors: M�ller, S., . CSLI Publications. 47- 67

Borsley, RD., (2010). An HPSG approach to Welsh unbounded dependencies. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar. Editors: M�ller, S., . CSLI Publications. 47- 67

Arnold, D. and Borsley, RD., (2008). Non-restrictive Relative Clauses, Ellipsis and Anaphora. In: The Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar, NICT, Keihanna, Japan. Editors: M�ller, S., . CSLI Publications. 325- 345

Borsley, RD., (2004). An Approach to English Comparative Correlatives. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar. Editors: Muller, S., . CSLI Publications. 70- 92

Borsley, RD., (1999). Weak Auxiliaries, Complex Verbs and Inflected Complementizers in Polish. In: Slavic in Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar. CSLI Publications. 29- 59. 9781575861746

Borsley, RD. and Newmeyer, FJ., (1997). 2 The Language Muddle. In: Linguistics Inside Out. John Benjamins Publishing Company. 42- 42. 9789027236524

Borsley, RD., Rivero, M-L. and Stephens, J., (1996). Long head movement in Breton. In: The Syntax of the Celtic Languages. Cambridge University Press. 53- 74. 9780521481601

Borsley, RD., (1993). Heads in Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar. In: Heads in Grammatical Theory. Cambridge University Press. 186- 203. 9780521420709

Borsley, RD., (1990). Welsh passives. In: Celtic Linguistics / Ieithyddiaeth Geltaidd. John Benjamins Publishing Company. 89- 89

Borsley, RD., (1990). A GPSG Approach to Breton Word Order. In: The Syntax of the Modern Celtic Languages. Academic Press. 81- 95

Borsley, RD., (1984). On the Nonexistence of VP's. In: Sentential Complementation: Proceedings of the International Conference Held at UFSAL, Brussels, June, 1983. Foris. 55- 65

Borsley, RD., (1983). A Welsh Agreement Process and the Status of VP and S. In: Order, Concord and Constituency. Foris. 57- 74

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