José M. Brucart, Anna Gavarró, and Jaume Solà
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199553266
- eISBN:
- 9780191720833
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199553266.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology, Theoretical Linguistics
This book is about features and merge, and, more specifically, about the intricate ways they interact in generating expressions in natural languages. This introductory chapter is divided into two ...
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This book is about features and merge, and, more specifically, about the intricate ways they interact in generating expressions in natural languages. This introductory chapter is divided into two parts. The first part offers a brief scotch of the tenets of the Minimalist Program, which constitutes the current mainstream version of generative grammar. The second part discusses how the contributions included in the present book address some fundamental questions raised by it.Less
This book is about features and merge, and, more specifically, about the intricate ways they interact in generating expressions in natural languages. This introductory chapter is divided into two parts. The first part offers a brief scotch of the tenets of the Minimalist Program, which constitutes the current mainstream version of generative grammar. The second part discusses how the contributions included in the present book address some fundamental questions raised by it.
Richard S. Kayne
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195179163
- eISBN:
- 9780199788330
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195179163.003.0005
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter explores the relation between prepositions and movement, arguing that in at least some cases — in particular, in causatives — what is considered as the argument of a preposition comes ...
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This chapter explores the relation between prepositions and movement, arguing that in at least some cases — in particular, in causatives — what is considered as the argument of a preposition comes together with it as the result of movement (or internal Merge), not as the result of external Merge. The prepositions in question are introduced above verb phrase (VP), and are paired with a K(ase) head that is also introduced above VP, in a way that may be parallel to recent work by Dominique Sportiche on determiners. The main thesis here is that some prepositions (and, by extension, some postpositions) are probes, in the sense of Chomsky's recent work. The particular case considered here is that of dative prepositions preceding subjects in French (and Italian) causatives.Less
This chapter explores the relation between prepositions and movement, arguing that in at least some cases — in particular, in causatives — what is considered as the argument of a preposition comes together with it as the result of movement (or internal Merge), not as the result of external Merge. The prepositions in question are introduced above verb phrase (VP), and are paired with a K(ase) head that is also introduced above VP, in a way that may be parallel to recent work by Dominique Sportiche on determiners. The main thesis here is that some prepositions (and, by extension, some postpositions) are probes, in the sense of Chomsky's recent work. The particular case considered here is that of dative prepositions preceding subjects in French (and Italian) causatives.
Anna Maria Di Sciullo
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780262027892
- eISBN:
- 9780262320351
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262027892.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
Evidence from intra-sentential codeswitching brings additional support to the Asymmetry Hypothesis, according to which asymmetrical relations are core relations of the language faculty. It is ...
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Evidence from intra-sentential codeswitching brings additional support to the Asymmetry Hypothesis, according to which asymmetrical relations are core relations of the language faculty. It is proposed that intra-sentential codeswitching is an instance of syntactic variation, which follows from feature valuation in the Minimalist framework, and that feature valuation sites are possible codeswitching sites. It is shown, on the basis of the analysis of multilingual free conversations, as well as on the basis of elicited judgements, that the complement/non complement asymmetry, relativized to the lexical/functional domains, provides the syntactic articulation of codeswithching grammars. Based on the difference between External Merge and Internal Merge, as well as on the distinction between lexical and functional domains, a typology of codeswithching grammars is proposed. Codeswitching grammars differ from one another depending on whether or not External Merge may give rise to possible head-complement switch sites in the lexical or in the functional domain, and whether or not Internal Merge may or not give rise to possible switch sites in specifier-head configurations in the lexical or in the functional domain. The parameterized theory predicts possible from impossible switch sites given the basic asymmetry of the operations of the grammar.Less
Evidence from intra-sentential codeswitching brings additional support to the Asymmetry Hypothesis, according to which asymmetrical relations are core relations of the language faculty. It is proposed that intra-sentential codeswitching is an instance of syntactic variation, which follows from feature valuation in the Minimalist framework, and that feature valuation sites are possible codeswitching sites. It is shown, on the basis of the analysis of multilingual free conversations, as well as on the basis of elicited judgements, that the complement/non complement asymmetry, relativized to the lexical/functional domains, provides the syntactic articulation of codeswithching grammars. Based on the difference between External Merge and Internal Merge, as well as on the distinction between lexical and functional domains, a typology of codeswithching grammars is proposed. Codeswitching grammars differ from one another depending on whether or not External Merge may give rise to possible head-complement switch sites in the lexical or in the functional domain, and whether or not Internal Merge may or not give rise to possible switch sites in specifier-head configurations in the lexical or in the functional domain. The parameterized theory predicts possible from impossible switch sites given the basic asymmetry of the operations of the grammar.
Miki Obata and Samuel David Epstein
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199644933
- eISBN:
- 9780191741609
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199644933.003.0015
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter seeks to shed new light on the formal properties of Merge. Chomsky's (2007, 2008) feature-inheritance system makes it possible that two heads such as T and C simultaneously attract a ...
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This chapter seeks to shed new light on the formal properties of Merge. Chomsky's (2007, 2008) feature-inheritance system makes it possible that two heads such as T and C simultaneously attract a single element. Obata and Epstein (2008, 2011) propose a new kind of structure building operation called Feature-Splitting Internal Merge (FSIM): which splits a single element into two syntactic objects. FSIM gives a new derivational, agreement-based, phi-featural account of improper movement phenomena, some of which converge. The FSIM hypothesis is applied to other types of structure building with the proposal that as there are three kinds of T/C there are also three kinds of v/V (including one licensing null-Case). One consequence is that tough-constructions are, in fact, derivable by a kind of “proper” (i.e. convergent) improper movement derivation. In addition, the analysis implies that Case on a tough-subject is revised" in the course of the derivation.Less
This chapter seeks to shed new light on the formal properties of Merge. Chomsky's (2007, 2008) feature-inheritance system makes it possible that two heads such as T and C simultaneously attract a single element. Obata and Epstein (2008, 2011) propose a new kind of structure building operation called Feature-Splitting Internal Merge (FSIM): which splits a single element into two syntactic objects. FSIM gives a new derivational, agreement-based, phi-featural account of improper movement phenomena, some of which converge. The FSIM hypothesis is applied to other types of structure building with the proposal that as there are three kinds of T/C there are also three kinds of v/V (including one licensing null-Case). One consequence is that tough-constructions are, in fact, derivable by a kind of “proper” (i.e. convergent) improper movement derivation. In addition, the analysis implies that Case on a tough-subject is revised" in the course of the derivation.
Thomas S. Stroik
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262012928
- eISBN:
- 9780262255349
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262012928.003.0034
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy
The transformational rules of generative grammar significantly overgenerate the output of natural language, producing grammars that children would find impossible to learn. To address this problem, ...
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The transformational rules of generative grammar significantly overgenerate the output of natural language, producing grammars that children would find impossible to learn. To address this problem, the generative grammarians of the 1970s and 1980s augmented grammars with output filters such as Noam Chomsky’s A-over-A Principle and Joseph Emond’s Structure Preserving Condition. As a result, three platforms of rules were introduced for generative grammars: local phrase structure rules, nonlocal transformational rules, and conditions/filters on rules. These rules have been embraced by most early versions of minimalism proposed in the 1990s. In particular, these minimalist models assumed that the system of operations/rules includes Merge, Move, and conditions on rules. In order to reduce the processing needs of minimalism, Chomsky delimited the system of operations to local External Merge and short-distance Internal Merge. Move-type operations do not trigger the displacement of human language.Less
The transformational rules of generative grammar significantly overgenerate the output of natural language, producing grammars that children would find impossible to learn. To address this problem, the generative grammarians of the 1970s and 1980s augmented grammars with output filters such as Noam Chomsky’s A-over-A Principle and Joseph Emond’s Structure Preserving Condition. As a result, three platforms of rules were introduced for generative grammars: local phrase structure rules, nonlocal transformational rules, and conditions/filters on rules. These rules have been embraced by most early versions of minimalism proposed in the 1990s. In particular, these minimalist models assumed that the system of operations/rules includes Merge, Move, and conditions on rules. In order to reduce the processing needs of minimalism, Chomsky delimited the system of operations to local External Merge and short-distance Internal Merge. Move-type operations do not trigger the displacement of human language.
Ian Roberts
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262014304
- eISBN:
- 9780262289726
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262014304.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Psycholinguistics / Neurolinguistics / Cognitive Linguistics
This book explores the consequences of Noam Chomsky’s conjecture that head movement is not part of the narrow syntax, the computational system which relates the lexicon to the interfaces. Unlike ...
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This book explores the consequences of Noam Chomsky’s conjecture that head movement is not part of the narrow syntax, the computational system which relates the lexicon to the interfaces. Unlike other treatments of the subject that discard the concept entirely, it retains the core intuition behind head movement and examines the extent to which it can be reformulated and rethought. The book argues that the current conception of syntax must accommodate a species of head movement, although this operation differs somewhat in technical detail and in empirical coverage from earlier understandings of it. It proposes that head movement is part of the narrow syntax and that it applies where the goal of an Agree relation is defective, in a sense that it defines, contending that the theoretical status of head movement is very similar—in fact identical in various ways—to that of XP-movement. Thus head movement, like XP-movement, should be regarded as part of narrow syntax exactly to the extent that XP movement should be. If one aspect of minimalist theorizing is to eliminate unnecessary distinctions, then the book’s argument can be seen as eliminating the distinction between “heads” and “phrases” in relation to internal merge (and therefore reducing the distinctions currently made between internal and external merge).Less
This book explores the consequences of Noam Chomsky’s conjecture that head movement is not part of the narrow syntax, the computational system which relates the lexicon to the interfaces. Unlike other treatments of the subject that discard the concept entirely, it retains the core intuition behind head movement and examines the extent to which it can be reformulated and rethought. The book argues that the current conception of syntax must accommodate a species of head movement, although this operation differs somewhat in technical detail and in empirical coverage from earlier understandings of it. It proposes that head movement is part of the narrow syntax and that it applies where the goal of an Agree relation is defective, in a sense that it defines, contending that the theoretical status of head movement is very similar—in fact identical in various ways—to that of XP-movement. Thus head movement, like XP-movement, should be regarded as part of narrow syntax exactly to the extent that XP movement should be. If one aspect of minimalist theorizing is to eliminate unnecessary distinctions, then the book’s argument can be seen as eliminating the distinction between “heads” and “phrases” in relation to internal merge (and therefore reducing the distinctions currently made between internal and external merge).
Glyne Piggott and Lisa deMena Travis (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- June 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198778264
- eISBN:
- 9780191823770
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198778264.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology, Theoretical Linguistics
This chapter investigates a view of wordhood where words are analysed as complex heads that contain no phrasal material. Several cases are examined where phonological and semantic information points ...
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This chapter investigates a view of wordhood where words are analysed as complex heads that contain no phrasal material. Several cases are examined where phonological and semantic information points to the existence of word-internal domains, but these domains are argued not to be indicative of phrases but rather phases that are spelled out separately. The claim is that syntax is a better predictor of cyclic phonological patterns than either Lexical Phonology or Stratal OT. The chapter begins with a syntactic account of an apparent counter-example to the ban on word-internal phrases by positing head adjunction via External Merge. The second section presents a phonological account of mismatches between the structure produced by the phasal spell-out in the syntax and the phonological output. The claim is these structures are created through Phonological Merger, where phonological movement from a higher to a lower phase is triggered by a phonological requirement.Less
This chapter investigates a view of wordhood where words are analysed as complex heads that contain no phrasal material. Several cases are examined where phonological and semantic information points to the existence of word-internal domains, but these domains are argued not to be indicative of phrases but rather phases that are spelled out separately. The claim is that syntax is a better predictor of cyclic phonological patterns than either Lexical Phonology or Stratal OT. The chapter begins with a syntactic account of an apparent counter-example to the ban on word-internal phrases by positing head adjunction via External Merge. The second section presents a phonological account of mismatches between the structure produced by the phasal spell-out in the syntax and the phonological output. The claim is these structures are created through Phonological Merger, where phonological movement from a higher to a lower phase is triggered by a phonological requirement.
Eileen John
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198715719
- eISBN:
- 9780191783395
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198715719.003.0003
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Aesthetics
This chapter considers how and why real people can care about fictional characters.. Caring rests on having interests at stake, and in literary contexts those interests concern the accuracy and ...
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This chapter considers how and why real people can care about fictional characters.. Caring rests on having interests at stake, and in literary contexts those interests concern the accuracy and content of a representation; we as people, as part of our natural history, are beings for whom representation and being represented are centrally important. This chapter argues for a better integration of the “internal” and “external” perspectives on fictional characters, that is, a better integration of what are too often taken as divergent and incompatible points of view: (1) the characters as witnessed from the outside, and (2) the reader’s vicarious identification with, and thus imaginative entry into the life of, the character from the inside.Less
This chapter considers how and why real people can care about fictional characters.. Caring rests on having interests at stake, and in literary contexts those interests concern the accuracy and content of a representation; we as people, as part of our natural history, are beings for whom representation and being represented are centrally important. This chapter argues for a better integration of the “internal” and “external” perspectives on fictional characters, that is, a better integration of what are too often taken as divergent and incompatible points of view: (1) the characters as witnessed from the outside, and (2) the reader’s vicarious identification with, and thus imaginative entry into the life of, the character from the inside.
