Describing and modeling variation in grammar

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While sociolinguistics has traditionally focused on variation within individual languages, its significance for grammatical theory has only recently gained recognition. This volume aims to bridge the gap between empirical-variationist and formal-theoretical approaches in linguistics. It features case studies that integrate corpus-based and competence-based methods to describe variation, thus opening new avenues for analyzing variability at both the individual speaker level and among different dialects and generations. Contributions document diverse research into models of grammatical competence that address variationist data, discussing parameter-based (e.g., Minimalist), constraint-based (e.g., Optimality Theoretic), and usage-based (e.g., Construction Grammar) approaches. The volume appeals to a wide audience within linguistics, including syntacticians, morphologists, and sociolinguists. While most contributions focus on variation in English and German, it also includes studies on variation in French, Dutch, Icelandic, and Uralic languages. This collection not only highlights the plurality of current research but also emphasizes the importance of integrating different methodologies to enhance our understanding of linguistic variation.