Neil Smith was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and University College London, where he received his Ph.D. in Linguistics for research which included a year's fieldwork among the Nupe in Nigeria. He did further research at MIT and UCLA while holding a Harkness Fellowship, and since 1972 has been at UCL, where he is currently Professor of Linguistics. He was chairman of the Linguistics Association of Great Britain from 1980 to 1986. He is married with two sons.

• Preface. 1. Introduction.2. Why Theory?.3. Grammar and Gravity.4. The Puzzle Puzzle.5. Quails and Oysters.6. The Oats have eaten the Horses.7. Wilt Thou have this Man to thy wedded Wife?.8. Must and the Randy Pachyderm.9. Y.10. Time and Tense.11. Lellow Lollies.12. Data, Evidence and the Theory Change.13. Annie's Botty-wotty.14. In my language we SHOUT.15. Clive.16. The Numbers Game.17. Useless Grammar.18. Linguistics as a Religion.19. A Seditious Chameleon.Appendix.Glossary.Bibliography.Index.

Neil Smith was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and University College London, where he received his Ph.D. in Linguistics for research which included a year's fieldwork among the Nupe in Nigeria. He did further research at MIT and UCLA while holding a Harkness Fellowship, and since 1972 has been at UCL, where he is currently Professor of Linguistics. He was chairman of the Linguistics Association of Great Britain from 1980 to 1986. He is married with two sons.

• Preface. 1. Introduction.2. Why Theory?.3. Grammar and Gravity.4. The Puzzle Puzzle.5. Quails and Oysters.6. The Oats have eaten the Horses.7. Wilt Thou have this Man to thy wedded Wife?.8. Must and the Randy Pachyderm.9. Y.10. Time and Tense.11. Lellow Lollies.12. Data, Evidence and the Theory Change.13. Annie's Botty-wotty.14. In my language we SHOUT.15. Clive.16. The Numbers Game.17. Useless Grammar.18. Linguistics as a Religion.19. A Seditious Chameleon.Appendix.Glossary.Bibliography.Index.

Neil Smith was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and University College London, where he received his Ph.D. in Linguistics for research which included a year's fieldwork among the Nupe in Nigeria. He did further research at MIT and UCLA while holding a Harkness Fellowship, and since 1972 has been at UCL, where he is currently Professor of Linguistics. He was chairman of the Linguistics Association of Great Britain from 1980 to 1986. He is married with two sons.

• Preface. 1. Introduction.2. Why Theory?.3. Grammar and Gravity.4. The Puzzle Puzzle.5. Quails and Oysters.6. The Oats have eaten the Horses.7. Wilt Thou have this Man to thy wedded Wife?.8. Must and the Randy Pachyderm.9. Y.10. Time and Tense.11. Lellow Lollies.12. Data, Evidence and the Theory Change.13. Annie's Botty-wotty.14. In my language we SHOUT.15. Clive.16. The Numbers Game.17. Useless Grammar.18. Linguistics as a Religion.19. A Seditious Chameleon.Appendix.Glossary.Bibliography.Index.