Across time and languages, we can observe that linguistic change is not random, but rather proceeds along recurrent patterns and pathways. Focusing on the history of the Germanic languages, this book explores how directions and tendencies in morphosyntactic change (word order change, the rise and fall of null subjects, and the development of paradigmatic syncretism) can be attributed to the interplay between language acquisition strategies and universal 'hard wired' principles of grammar.

Eric Fuß, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.