Best Selling Books by Ian Roberts

This text considers syntactic change from the perspective of generative theory. It explains how diachronic generative theory may be used in the study of linguistic change in different languages & shows how diachronic generative syntax links with the study of first-language acquisition, computional linguistics & sociolinguistics.

Create Better Compositions by Design The path to better painting begins with Mastering Composition. This effective guide blends clear, visual instruction with 5 step-by-step demonstrations to show you how to plan and paint your best work yet. Composition is the key, and here you''ll learn to design paintings with new skill and confidence. It all begins with the armature or structure of the picture plane. Every great painting has one, and you''ll see through several famous examples exactly how the Old Masters used armatures to create movement, narrative, harmony and fluidity. Based on these examples, you''ll practice what you''ve learned following a series of hands-on demonstrations. Once you understand the basic principles of design, you''ll be amazed at how quickly and effectively your compositions come together. Soon you will be painting more boldly and confidently than ever before with less reworking and overworking. Whether you''re a beginner looking for basic instruction or a more advanced painter troubleshooting a specific problem, the proven methods in this book will work for you. Ideal for all mediums, Mastering Composition gives you the knowledge you need to create powerful paintings out of every subject.

Actor and musician Ian Roberts is something of a South African icon, renowned for his roles as the rugged Boer fighter Sloet Steenkamp in the TV series Arende and as Boet in the immortal and immensely popular Castrol advertisements. Ian had an unconventional youth, running wild on his family''s citrus farm in the Eastern Cape. There he grew a love of nature and first learnt the art of communicating with an audience through song and story. A master storyteller with a wicked sense of humour, Ian offers a highly entertaining glimpse of how actors make the magic happen, whether on a theatre stage or before the TV cameras. Drawing on a career that runs from Long Street to Los Angeles, and from Shakespeare to Tsotsi, Ian provides a masterclass on the art of acting, making his life story a vital guide to aspiring actors. His no-nonsense and fearless approach to life means he has never hesitated to tackle challenging roles and to do things in his own, unconventional way. Today, as frontman for Die Radio Kalahari Orkes, he continues to follow his heart.

The phenomenon of grammaticalization - the historical process whereby new grammatical material is created - has attracted a great deal of attention within linguistics. This is an attempt to provide a general account of this phenomenon in terms of a formal theory of syntax. Using Chomsky''s Minimalist Program for linguistic theory, Roberts and Roussou show how this approach gives rise to a number of important conceptual and theoretical issues concerning the nature of functional categories and the form of parameters, as well as the relation of both of these to language change. Drawing on examples from a wide range of languages, they construct a general account of grammaticalization with implications for linguistic theory and language acquisition.

A coherent and engaging introduction to generative syntax by a leading figure in the field, with no prior knowledge required.

An examination of the evidence for and the theoretical implications of a universal word order constraint, with data from a wide range of languages. This book presents evidence for a universal word order constraint, the Final-over-Final Condition (FOFC), and discusses the theoretical implications of this phenomenon. FOFC is a syntactic condition that disallows structures where a head-initial phrase is contained in a head-final phrase in the same extended projection/domain. The authors argue that FOFC is a linguistic universal, not just a strong tendency, and not a constraint on processing. They discuss the effects of the universal in various domains, including the noun phrase, the adjective phrase, the verb phrase, and the clause. The book draws on data from a wide range of languages, including Hindi, Turkish, Basque, Finnish, Afrikaans, German, Hungarian, French, English, Italian, Romanian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mandarin, Pontic Greek, Bagirmi, Dholuo, and Thai. FOFC, the authors argue, is important because it is the only known example of a word order asymmetry pertaining to the order of heads. As such, it has significant repercussions for theories connecting the narrow syntax to linear order.

World-wide, over a billion adults are overweight and 300 million are officially ''obese'', more than 3,000 people die every day on the world''s roads and global warming and war threaten our survival as a species. The Energy Glut tells the story of energy and how our abuse of fossil fuel energy links all of these public issues as manifestations of the same fundamental planetary malaise. This exciting new book argues that the pulse of fossil fuel energy released from the ground after the discovery of oil not only started the process of catastrophic climate change, but also propelled the average human weight distribution upwards. The author presents a frightening vision of humans besieged by a food industry that uses sophisticated marketing techniques to sell mountains of energy-dense food to those who are ''functionally paralysed'', with fewer opportunities to move our bodies than ever before. We see why the accumulation of body fat is a political, not a personal, problem. This insightful new work offers and appraises for the reader a set of personal and political de-carbonising strategies, but to ''tread more lightly on our world'' we first need to make sense of the systemic processes, and The Energy Glut takes expert first steps in this direction.

Parametric variation in linguistic theory refers to the systematic grammatical variation permitted by the human language faculty. Although still widely assumed, the parametric theory of variation has in recent years been subject to re-evaluation and critique. The Null Subject Parameter, which determines among other things whether or not a language allows the suppression of subject pronouns, is one of the best-known and most widely discussed examples of a parameter. Nevertheless its status in current syntactic theory is highly controversial. This book is a defence of the parametric approach to linguistic variation, set within the framework of the Minimalist Program. It discusses syntactic variation in the light of recent developments in linguistic theory, focusing on issues such as the formal nature of minimalist parameters, the typology of null-subject language systems and the way in which parametric choices can be seen to underlie the synchronic and diachronic patterns observed in natural languages.

If know-how is knowing what to do to make change happen, do-how is doing what needs to be done - there''s a big difference. Everybody knows that change can be difficult. Sometimes you feel yourself stuck going round in circles as you revisit the same challenges again and again. But there is a way to change things and it doesn''t have to be complicated. In this highly practical book, Dave Corbet and Ian Roberts show just how quickly you can move forward once you recognize that the key to change is not your know-how - understanding how to make change happen in theory - but your do-how - the shifts in behavior that will deliver the changes you want, whether this be at home or work. Dispensing with academic jargon, and illustrated throughout with real-life examples and case studies, the book draws together diverse aspects of change into one simple, tried-and-tested roadmap, allowing you to develop the do-how you need to achieve breakthrough change: change that sticks, and delivers results. - Transform the culture of your organization - Proactively manage an underperforming team member - Reignite and develop your career - Improve relationships with partners or children - Learn to say no

The demand for information about effective special education programs in public and private educational institutions continues to grow. There is an increase in the alarming statistics surrounding the impact of the negative effects that failing special education programs; particularly those that are focused on placing students in exclusion and self- contained environments. Prisoners or Presidents: How and Why Inclusion Determines The Future of Students With Special Needs offers a comprehensive discussion of special education and inclusion. This book provides insight into the wonderful things that can happen to students when the two are merged. This book is written for every educator, parent, policy maker and child who has or has ever had a special need. In addition, this book provides a comprehensive overview about the history of special education, legislation, policy, and practices from the 1800s to Contemporary America.

Ian Roberts offers a stimulating introduction to our greatest gift as a species: our capacity for articulate language. We are mostly as blissfully unaware of the intricacies of the structure of language as fish are of the water they swim in. We live in a mental ocean of nouns, verbs, quantifiers, morphemes, vowels and other rich, strange and deeply fascinating linguistic objects. This book introduces the reader to this amazing world. Offering a thought-provoking and accessible introduction to the main discoveries and theories about language, the book is aimed at general readers and undergraduates who are curious about linguistics and language. Written in a lively and direct style, technical terms are carefully introduced and explained and the book includes a full glossary. The book covers all the central areas of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, as well as historical linguistics, sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics.

This book brings together for the first time a series of previously published papers featuring Ian Roberts’ pioneering work on diachronic and comparative syntax over the last thirty years in one comprehensive volume. Divided into two parts, the volume engages in recent key topics in empirical studies of syntactic theory, with the eight papers on diachronic syntax addressing major changes in the history of English as well as broader aspects of syntactic change, including the introduction to the formal approach to grammaticalisation, and the eight papers on comparative syntax exploring head-movement, the nature and distribution of clitics, and the nature of parametric variation and change. This comprehensive collection of the author’s body of research on diachronic and comparative syntax is an essential resource for scholars and researchers in theoretical, comparative, and historical linguistics.

With the end of America’s wars in the Middle East, charismatic expat James Reso returns home to a deeply polarized country. Detesting President Dennis Ward''s cynical authoritarianism, James and his friends create the political party Nos Populus: “We The People.” Using mass protests and audacious theatrics, Nos Populus becomes the de facto opposition to the Wardists, while James rockets to celebrity. But when a protest ends horrifically, a depressed and frustrated James becomes easy prey for his own party''s most extreme elements. And after unleashing his seething obsessions about Ward, it may become a matter of ‘when,’ rather than ‘if,’ James’ long threadbare sanity finally surrenders. NOS POPULUS is a unique blend of political satire and psychological thriller about good intentions gone very awry.

This book will support children as they: * Find out about wartime phrases and use them to write a dialogue * Write a letter home from a P.O.W. camp * Read wartime adverts and slogans and decide how effective they are

Is this the right course for me? Essential German Verbs is the course for you if you need help with your study of German. This fully revised edition of our best-selling course now comes with free downloadable audio support containing hints on how to learn verbs effectively. The aim of this book is to help you improve your command of German by focusing on one aspect of language learning that invariably causes difficulties - verbs and the way they behave. Whether you are a complete beginner or a relatively advanced learner, you can consult the book when you need to know the form of a verb quickly. The introductory section gives you a complete overview of German verbs and how they work in the various tenses. Essential German Verbs contains: - full coverage of the main tenses for 200 frequently used German verbs arranged alphabetically for quick and easy reference - examples of the verbs in everyday use, with colloquial expressions and words sharing the same origin - a German-English verb list of approximately 3000 verbs with details of the patterns they follow - an English-German verb list giving the most frequently used English verbs in German with details of the patterns they follow - free downloadable audio support with hints on how to learn verbs Learn effortlessly with a new, easy-to-read page design and interactive features: Not got much time? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. Author insights Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author''s many years of experience. Useful vocabulary Easy to find and learn, to build a solid foundation for speaking. Online tests Tests to help you keep track of your progress. Extend your knowledge Extra online articles give you a richer understanding of the culture and history of Germany.

This book will support children as they: * Write a school report for a Victorian pupil * Compile the biography of a real-life circus performer- "The Human Canon Ball" * Produce a letter to complain about the after-effects of the Victorian remedy carbolic smoke balls!

Eric Roberts was conscripted in 1939 into the 1/5 Sherwood Foresters. After service in France and evacuation from Brest in 1940, the Battalion were sent to the Far East arriving in Singapore three weeks before the surrender. Eric became a prisoner of the Japanese and was sent to the Burma-Thai Railway. His Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel Lilly who was later to become the inspiration for Colonel Nicholson in the film Bridge on the River Kwai. Eric’s fiancée, Eunice Lowe, learnt of his capture by chance from a friend. Amidst speculation that Eric had escaped, Eunice began a campaign to learn the truth but it was not until 26 May 1943 that she received confirmation that he was a POW. From 1942 to 1945, while suffering extreme hardship and abuse from his captors, Eric was permitted to send just three postcards. Despite Eunice writing every week, only a handful were received by him in late 1944. After liberation, Eric returned home and married Eunice in 1946. Fortunately, Eric wrote a graphic memoir of his captivity in the post-war years and Eunice’s correspondence has been preserved. The two combined make for an unusual and moving record of a young couple’s testing yet very different experiences.

Covering classic films such as ''The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari'' and ''Nosferatu'' as well as under-appreciated examples such as ''Asphalt'', this volume forms an essential introduction to one of cinema''s most historically important movements.

These Student Books, Tutor''s Resource File and photocopiable option unit packs provide thorough and up-to-date material for the AVCE Leisure and Recreation and Travel and Tourism awards.

Examines government, arts, language, work, leisure, education, festivals, food, the country, its heritage, and its people.

A gripping story of adventure and courage set in a magnificent wilderness with the French, English, Iroquois and Wendat just starting to do battle for what would become Canada and the US. "The flintlock releases with a click and then three powerful, exhilarating sensations hit him at once: the kick of the musket hard into his shoulder, the deafening roar, and the dense, acrid smell of burnt powder smoke. As the crashing echo of his shot rolls back from across the lake he knows the blow of the musket ball would be lethal to Wendat flesh. Totiri knew before lifting the musket that he wanted it. Now the desire consumes him." It''s 1634 in New France. Etienne Brulé has lived with the Wendat and helped them develop the fur trade with France for 25 years and fought beside them against the Iroquois. When the English sell the Iroquois guns, Brulé is the only one who can get guns for the Wendat. But he knows the price everyone will pay in the end.

As ''n jong seun wat kaalvoet en vry grootgeword het op sy ouers se sitrusplaas in die Oos-Kaap, sou Ian Roberts nooit kon dink dat hy eendag ''n ikoon van die silwerskerm sou word nie. Vandag nog herken mense hom as die taai Bittereinder Sloet Steenkamp van Arende of as Boet van die gewilde Castrol-advertensies. Ian se loopbaan strek van Langstraat in Kaapstad tot Los Angeles en van Shakespeare-produksies in die teater tot die Oscar-wenner Tsotsi. In sy outobiografie verklap hierdie briljante storieverteller met ''n stoute sin vir humour meer oor wat alles agter die skerms op televisie- en rolprentstelle gebeur. Hy beskryf ook die hoogbloei van Afrikaanse televisie- en rolprentvervaardiging toe hy saam met legendariese regisseurs soos Manie van Rensburg en Dirk de Villiers gewerk het. Sy lewensverhaal is ''n meesterklas in die kuns van toneelspel. So outentiek, vreesloos en onkonvensioneel soos wat talle van sy karakters was, só is Ian ook in die regte lewe. Hy trap sy eie paadjie en was nog nooit ''n tropbok nie. Hy deel sy lewensverhaal met soveel humor, patos en insig dat dit nie anders kan as om die leser te ontroer nie.

Wolfdietrich Schnurre is best known as the writer of deceptively simple post-war Kurzgeschichten, but the truth is far more complex. The tension between the wish to confront personal guilt and the desire to reclaim an ideologically compromised past gave rise to a unique body of work. Schnurre repeatedly returned to a nucleus of autobiographical events, applying to them a range of literary styles and ideologies, in order to lay the past to rest and to rediscover a lost sense of identity. The present study traces his thematic and narrative development throughout a fifty-year literary career, encompassing the collapse of National Socialism, the Cold War and the growing political and economic success of the Federal Republic. Schnurre, as presented here, becomes a representative figure, both of a generation and of a nation''s sensibility. His work stands as a fascinating testimony to Germany''s struggle with its Nazi past.

This closely woven Chinese, Irish and Australian story begins in Canton during the Opium Wars and expands in the Australian Gold Rush of the 19th century. The Chinese miners are entwined in adversity with the rural Irish poor and notorious Kelly Gang.

The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual is a comprehensive guide to the UCB style of long form comedy improvisation. Written by UCB founding members Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, the manual covers everything from the basics of two person scene work (with a heavy emphasis on finding "the game" of the scene), to the complexities of working within an ensemble to perform long form structures, such as "The Harold" and "The Movie". A practical "how to" book, the guide provides exercises throughout to help the reader master each new concept and technique introduced. While the manual is written to be understood by beginners with no previous exposure to improvisational comedy, experienced improvisors will find it to be an excellent resource for honing their skills, clarifying concepts, and generally taking their work to a higher level.