A Theory of Syntax: Minimal Operations and Universal Grammar

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
1.1 Introduction......Page 13
1.2 Minimalism and Darwin\'s Problem......Page 16
1.3 Two more specific minimalist research projects......Page 22
1.4 The structure of the book......Page 27
2.1 Introduction: The sources of c-command......Page 29
2.2.1 The standard case; single rooted sub-trees......Page 32
2.2.2 Sidewards movement......Page 37
2.3 Linearization......Page 41
2.4 Minimality and c-command......Page 47
2.5 More on paths......Page 51
2.5.1 The A-over-A condition......Page 52
2.5.2 Minimal domains as exceptions to minimality......Page 54
2.5.3 Tucking-in and grammatical distance......Page 56
2.5.4 Labels and m-command......Page 58
2.5.5 Sidewards movement (SWM)......Page 59
2.5.6 Shortest Attract versus Shortest Move......Page 61
2.5.7 Merge Over Move......Page 62
2.6 Conclusion......Page 63
3.1 Introduction: Merge and Concatenate......Page 65
3.2 What is concatenation?......Page 68
3.3.1 Endocentricity and recursion......Page 71
3.3.2 The endocentricity constraint......Page 73
3.3.3 The Extension Condition......Page 74
3.3.4 The why and what of movement......Page 75
3.3.5 Specifiers and complements......Page 78
3.4 Why paths only include XPs......Page 80
3.4.1 Computing shortest paths......Page 81
3.4.2 Minimality, BPS and structure preservation......Page 82
3.4.3 An interpretive interlude......Page 86
3.4.4 Phrases have only a single head......Page 88
3.4.5 Why grammatical operations target constituents......Page 89
3.5 Conclusion......Page 92
4.1 Introduction......Page 93
4.2 General properties of adjunction structures......Page 94
4.3 Labeling without bars......Page 99
4.4 No labeling......Page 101
4.5 Some consequences......Page 107
4.5.1 Dangling off......Page 108
4.5.2 Dangling on......Page 113
4.6 Concluding remarks......Page 117
5.2 The basic operations of FL and the \"laws\" of UG......Page 118
5.3 Basic operations and the logical problem of grammar evolution......Page 123
5.4 Darwin\'s Problem and the Minimalist Program......Page 126
5.5 The Granularity Problem......Page 128
5.7 Appendix: Copies and multi-dominance......Page 129
6.1 Introduction......Page 138
6.2.1 The Redundancy between Move and AGREE......Page 140
6.2.2 Three ways to model I-agreement without AGREE......Page 142
6.3.1 The problem; Move and the single cycle theory......Page 147
6.3.2 A Sportiche-doubling proposal......Page 151
6.3.3 Transitive expletive constructions (TEC)......Page 153
6.3.4 Recap......Page 159
6.4 Pronouncing lower copies......Page 160
6.5 Conclusion......Page 165
7.1 What we have wrought......Page 167
7.2.1 Complex operations and constructions......Page 170
7.2.2 Language acquisition and parameter setting......Page 176
7.2.3 Islands......Page 180
7.2.4 Reversibility......Page 182
7.2.5 Features and clausal structure, or why there is movement......Page 186
7.3 A short philosophical postscript......Page 190
References......Page 193
Index......Page 202