Mark Baker

Mark C. Baker is widely known for his book 'The Polysynthesis Parameter', published in 1996. This highly influential work proposes a formal account of how polysynthetic languages function within generative syntax.

As a professor and linguist, Baker works heavily in generative syntax and focuses extensively on polysynthetic languages, particularly Mohawk. His research on these complex indigenous languages has deeply influenced modern linguistic theory.

Mark C. Baker serves as a professor of linguistics at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he has cemented his reputation as a leading figure in the field of generative syntax and language universals.

Proposed in his 1996 book, Baker's Polysynthesis Parameter argues that true polysynthetic languages share a specific grammatical rule where verbs must include their subjects and objects. He uses data from languages like Mohawk to demonstrate how this fundamental structural difference sets them apart from English or Latin.