‘Virtual conceptual necessity’, feature-dissociation and the Saussurian legacy in generative grammar

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
NOEL BURTON-ROBERTS ◽  
GEOFFREY POOLE
Keyword(s):  
Parallel Architecture ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Distributed Morphology ◽  
Interface Property ◽  
Linguistic Sign ◽  
Conceptual Necessity

This paper is a critique of two foundational assumptions of generative work culminating in the Minimalist Program: the assumption that, as a matter of conceptual necessity, language has a ‘double-interface property’ and the related assumption that phonology has a realizational function with respect to syntax-semantics. The issues are broached through a critique of Holmberg's (2000) analysis of Stylistic Fronting in Icelandic. We show that, although empirically motivated, and although based on the double-interface assumption, this analysis is incompatible with that assumption and with the notion of (phonological) realization. Independently of Stylistic Fronting, we argue that the double-interface assumption is a problematic legacy of Saussure's conception of the linguistic sign and that, conceptually, it is neither explanatory nor necessary. The Representational Hypothesis (e.g. Burton-Roberts 2000) develops a Peircian conception of the relation between sound and meaning that breaks with the Saussurian tradition, though in a way consistent with minimalist goals. Other superficially similar approaches (Lexeme–Morpheme Base Morphology, Distributed Morphology, Jackendoff's Parallel Architecture) are discussed; it is argued that they, too, perpetuate aspects of Saussurian thought.

The Concept of Explanatory Adequacy

2016 ◽  
pp. 96-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Rizzi
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Parametric Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
History Of ◽  
Explanatory Adequacy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Linguistic Phenomenon

This chapter illustrates the technical notion of ‘explanatory adequacy’ in the context of the other forms of empirical adequacy envisaged in the history of generative grammar: an analysis of a linguistic phenomenon is said to meet ‘explanatory adequacy’ when it comes with a reasonable account of how the phenomenon is acquired by the language learner. It discusses the relevance of arguments from the poverty of the stimulus, which bear on the complexity of the task that every language learner successfully accomplishes, and therefore define critical cases for evaluating the explanatory adequacy of a linguistic analysis. After illustrating the impact that parametric models had on the possibility of achieving explanatory adequacy on a large scale, the chapter addresses the role that explanatory adequacy plays in the context of the Minimalist Program, and the interplay that the concept has with the further explanation ‘beyond explanatory adequacy’ that minimalist analysis seeks.

Movement and Control

1999 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Hornstein
Keyword(s):  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Control Structures ◽  
Obligatory Control ◽  
And Control

Since the earliest days of generative grammar, control has been distinguished from raising: the latter the product of movement operations, the former the result of construal processes relating a PRO to an antecedent. This article argues that obligatory control structures are also formed by movement. Minimalism makes this approach viable by removing D-Structure as a grammatical level. Implementing the suggestion, however, requires eliminating the last vestiges of D-Structure still extant in Chomsky's (1995) version of the Minimalist Program. In particular, it requires dispensing with the θ-Criterion and adopting the view that θ-roles are featurelike in being able to license movement.

scholarly journals Teoria gerativa: contexto histórico e perspectivas

2018 ◽  
pp. 21-35
Author(s):  
Gisely Gonçalves De Castro
Keyword(s):  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Semantic Interpretation ◽  
Syntactic Structures

Este artigo fornece um percurso histórico do empreendimento gerativo, desde o seu surgimento até os desenvolvimentos recentes do Programa Minimalista. O artigo objetiva prover um levantamento compreensivo do campo da Teoria Gerativa e explorar perspectivas para pesquisas futuras. Os fundamentos no qual o presente trabalho se apoia compreendem os textos precursores das diferentes abordagens gerativas: Syntactic Structures (CHOMSKY, 1957), Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (CHOMSKY, 1965), Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar (JACKENDOFF, 1972), Lectures on Government and Binding (CHOMSKY, 1981) e Minimalist Program (CHOMSKY, 1995). Ao final do percurso, indicam-se três perspectivas para as pesquisas de base gerativa: a cooperação interdisciplinar para o estudo da FL, a redução da aparente complexidade da GU e a compreensão dos sistemas que interagem com a linguagem.

Semantics in generative grammar

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-185
Author(s):  
Enrico Cipriani
Keyword(s):  
Universal Grammar ◽  
Formal Semantics ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Linguistic Theory ◽  
Critical Survey ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Binding Theory ◽  
Minimalist Approach

Abstract I provide a critical survey of the role that semantics took in the several models of generative grammar, since the 1950s until the Minimalist Program. I distinguish four different periods. In the first section, I focus on the role of formal semantics in generative grammar until the 1970s. In Section 2 I present the period of linguistic wars, when the role of semantics in linguistic theory became a crucial topic of debate. In Section 3 I focus on the formulation of conditions on transformations and Binding Theory in the 1970s and 1980s, while in the last Section I discuss the role of semantics in the minimalist approach. In this section, I also propose a semantically-based model of generative grammar, which fully endorses minimalism and Chomsky’s later position concerning the primary role of the semantic interface in the Universal Grammar modelization (Strong Minimalist Thesis). In the Discussion, I point out some theoretical problems deriving from Chomsky’s internalist interpretation of model-theoretic semantics.

Minimalist Parsing

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Computational Linguistics ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Formal Grammar ◽  
Apparent Paradox ◽  
Computer Scientists

This book is the first dedicated to linguistic parsing—the processing of natural language according to the rules of a formal grammar—in the minimalist framework. While the Minimalist Program has been at the forefront of generative grammar for several decades, it often remains inaccessible to computer scientists and others in adjacent fields. In particular, minimalism reveals a surprising paradox: human language is simpler than we thought, and yet it cannot be processed by the machinery used by computer scientists. In this volume, experts in the field show how to resolve this apparent paradox, and how to turn Chomsky’s abstract theories into working computer programs that can process sentences or make predictions about the time course of brain activity when dealing with language. The book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in formal syntax, computational linguistics, psycholinguistics, and computer science.

scholarly journals Generative Grammar: A Meaning First Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uli Sauerland ◽  
Artemis Alexiadou
Keyword(s):  
Logical Form ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Distributed Morphology ◽  
Transformational Grammar ◽  
Linguistic Analyses ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Multiple Languages ◽  
Emotive Meaning ◽  
Late Insertion

The theory of language must predict the possible thought—signal (or meaning—sound or sign) pairings of a language. We argue for a Meaning First architecture of language where a thought structure is generated first. The thought structure is then realized using language to communicate the thought, to memorize it, or perhaps with another purpose. Our view contrasts with the T-model architecture of mainstream generative grammar, according to which distinct phrase-structural representations—Phonetic Form (PF) for articulation, Logical Form (LF) for interpretation—are generated within the grammar. At the same time, our view differs from early transformational grammar and generative semantics: We view the relationship between the thought structure and the corresponding signal as one of compression. We specify a formal sketch of compression as a choice between multiple possible pronounciations balancing the desire to transmit information against the effort of pronounciation. The Meaning First architecture allows a greater degree of independence between thought structures and the linguistic signal. We present three arguments favoring this type of independence. First we argue that scopal properties can be better explained if we only compare thought structures independent of the their realization as a sentence. Secondly, we argue that Meaning First architecture allows contentful late insertion, an idea that has been argued for in Distributed Morphology already, but as we argue is also motivated by the division of the logical and socio-emotive meaning content of language. Finally, we show that only the Meaning First architecture provides a satisfying account of the mixing of multiple languages by multilingual speakers, especially for cases of simultaneous articulation across two modalities in bimodal speakers. Our view of the structure of grammar leads to a reassessment of priorities in linguistic analyses: while current mainstream work is often focused on establishing one-to-one relationships between concepts and morphemes, our view makes it plausible that primitive concepts are frequently marked indirectly or unpronounced entirely. Our view therefore assigns great value to the understanding of logical primitives and of compression.

Recursive compounds

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makiko Mukai
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Distributed Morphology ◽  
Word Class ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Japanese English

I propose a structure for recursive compounds in Japanese, English and Mainland Scandinavian within the frameworks of the Minimalist Program ( Chomsky 1995 , 2000 , 2001 ) and Distributed Morphology ( Halle and Marantz 1993 ). Within the proposed theory, Collins’ (2002) definition of head is used: a head is a category which has one or more unsaturated features. Secondly, it is assumed that discharging a theta-feature from a simple nominal is also possible, since nouns are predicates ( Higginbotham 1985 ) and an undischarged theta-feature counts as an unsaturated feature. In addition, the non-head of a compound is argued to be a root without word class features.

On College English Teaching in China from the Perspective of MP in Generative Grammar Theory

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 724
Author(s):  
Haojie Li
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Classroom Teaching ◽  
English Learning ◽  
College English ◽  
English Teaching ◽  
Teaching College ◽  
Teaching Paradigm ◽  
Learning Interest

This paper discusses how the theory of MP in generative grammar can be used in College English teaching in China. The author holds that a brand-new teaching paradigm- autonomous English learning-will be built if certain theories and principles of Minimalist Program (MP) are used in China’s college classroom teaching. College teachers of English apply theories of lexicon, derivation by phase under the framework of MP in generative grammar and organization strategies into their English teaching and learning appropriately and college students will renew their English learning ideas, their learning interest will be stimulated and their enthusiasm and initiative in active English learning will be enhanced.

Reviewing Minimalist Theories of Control and a Brief Look at Romanian Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-214
Author(s):  
Mihaela Buzec
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Obligatory Control ◽  
Movement Theory ◽  
Applied Model ◽  
Control Theories

"Reviewing Minimalist Theories of Control and a Brief Look at Romanian Control. The phenomenon of control is a long-discussed topic within the enterprise of generative grammar. Multiple theories were composed and dismissed along with the advancement of the module, and with the development of the Minimalist program, more recent theories on control came to surface. The present article provides a review of two minimalist theories of control: the Movement Theory of Control and the Agree Model of Obligatory Control. A synopsis of one applied model of the MTC on Romanian data is also part of the paper, as is a brief commentary on the structure of Romanian control, namely an exploration of the tension between subjunctive and infinitive control complements. Keywords: control theories, minimalist program, Romanian control, Agree Model of Control, Movement Theory of Control "

scholarly journals Verb movement and interrogatives

Linguistica ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-176
Author(s):  
Gašper Ilc ◽  
Milena Milojević Sheppard
Keyword(s):  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Lexical Item ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Binding Theory ◽  
Verb Movement ◽  
Clausal Structure ◽  
Lexical Categories ◽  
Base Position ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Feature Checking

Verb movement is a phenomenon that has been studied extensively withintheframework of Chomskyan generative grammar. The pioneering work by Pollock(1989) has been followed by a number of studies involving various languages, whichhas provided an important insight both into the language-specific andlanguage-uni­versal properties of verb movement. In most general terms, verb movement canbedefined as movement of the verb from its base position in the (V)erb (P)hrase tosomeposition higher in the clausal structure. In Government & Binding theory verbmove­ment was motivated by the need of the bare lexical verb to associate with theinflec­tional affixes hosted by the functional heads (Pollock 1989, Belletti 1990). Bycontrast,the Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1995) claims that all types of movement aretrig­ gered by feature-checking requirements. In this system, items from lexical categories are fully inflected in the lexicon.Thus the verb is inserted into its base position with all its inflectional affixes and associated inflectional features. Functional heads donotcontain any inflectional material; they carry only abstract features, which arecheckedagainst the corresponding features on the lexical items. In order for feature-checkingto take place the lexical item (e.g. the verb) must raise to the relevantfunctionalhead(s).

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