On the phrasal vs. clausal syntactic status of French infinitives: causative constructions and subject inversion

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karine Baschung ◽  
Marianne Desmets
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Causative Constructions ◽  
Syntactic Status ◽  
Program Data ◽  
Principles And Parameters

We examine the phrasal vs. clausal syntactic status of French infinitives. Whereas a number of current theories assume a VP-hypothesis (contra principles and parameters theories, including the Minimalist Program), data relative to causative constructions in French are often treated as clausal constructions (the so-called ‘proposition infinitive’). The aim of this paper is to demonstrate (i) that it is possible to account for causative constructions in French according to the VP-hypothesis (e.g. in the HPSG framework); (ii) that it is in fact impossible to maintain a clausal hypothesis for causative constructions with respect to subject inversion in French. We therefore argue in favour of the VP-hypothesis for all (French) infinitives.

scholarly journals Tough-Constructions and Their Derivation

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glyn Hicks
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Role Assignment ◽  
Null Operator ◽  
Principles And Parameters

This article addresses the syntax of the notorious tough(-movement) construction (TC) in English. TCs exhibit a range of apparently contradictory empirical properties suggesting that their derivation involves the application of both A-movement and Ā-movement operations. Within previous principles-and-parameters models, TCs have remained “unexplained and in principle unexplainable” (Holmberg 2000:839) because of incompatibility with constraints on θ-role assignment, locality, and Case. This article argues that the phase-based implementation of the Minimalist Program (Chomsky 2000, 2001, 2004) permits a reanalysis of null wh-operators capable of circumventing the previous theoretical difficulties. Essentially, tough-movement consists of A-moving a constituent out of a “complex” null operator that has already undergone Ā-movement, a “smuggling” construction in the terms proposed by Collins (2005a,b).

scholarly journals To See a World in a Grain of Sand: Review of Legate (2014)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Hsin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Thematic Role ◽  
Austronesian Language ◽  
Verb Phrase ◽  
Causative Constructions ◽  
Linguistic Understanding ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Verb Phrases ◽  
Case Licensing ◽  
Seminal Article

Voice and v is an investigation of the syntax of an understudied Western Austronesian language, Acehnese, with a particular interest in its implications for the theory of verb phrase structure under the framework of the Minimalist Program. Since Pylkkänen's seminal article, the idea that the functional projection of verb phrases involves two distinct layers—a higher one (that is, Voice) that is responsible for introducing the external thematic role and Case-licensing the internal argument, and a lower one (that is, v) that is responsible for introducing causative semantics and verbalizing the root—has been advanced in a series of works under the Minimalist Program. This book presents novel evidence for this hypothesis based on an in-depth analysis of Acehnese passive, object voice, and causative constructions. Building on the empirical observations from Acehnese, the book makes further explorations of the syntactic typology of passives and causatives, on which the Acehnese data shed light. It contributes not only to the description and analysis of an understudied language, but also to the cross-linguistic understanding of the different flavors of Voice and the architecture of verb phrase structures.

scholarly journals Português Brasileiro como segunda língua: um estudo sobre o sujeito nulo (Brazilian Portuguese as a second language: a study about the null subject)

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Gildete Rocha Xavier
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Universal Grammar ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Single Type ◽  
Null Subject ◽  
Verbal Form ◽  
Principles And Parameters

Este estudo objetiva investigar como se dá a aquisição do sujeito nulo do português brasileiro (PB) como segunda língua (L2) por adultos estrangeiros, falantes nativos de inglês e italiano em situação de imersão total. A pesquisa desenvolve-se no âmbito da gramática gerativa, dentro do quadro da Teoria de Princípios e Parâmetros (CHOMSKY, 1981, 1986) e do Programa Minimalista (CHOMsKY, 1993, 1995, 2000). As questões da pesquisa estão relacionadas ao acesso à Gramàtica Universal (GU) por aprendizes de L2. Mais especificamente, procurou-se investigar se os sujeitos analisados têm acesso à GU e, em caso afirmativo, qual seria a forma desse acesso. Os resultados da análise dos dados confirmaram a) a hipótese de acesso direto à Gu, através do uso do valor default do parâmetro pro-drop = sujeitos nulos ou preenchidos + a forma verbal unipessoal, nas produções dos falantes de inglês e italiano em fase inicial de aquisição; e b)a hipótese do acesso indireto à Gu, via L1, nas produções dos sujeitos falantes de inglês e italiano em fase inicial de aquisição. Além disso, considerando que as línguas pro-drop não constituem um único tipo, levantou-se a hipótese de que, com base nos dados do input, os aprendizes vão apresentar o pro-drop do PB, a partir da (1999) aquisição da concordância dessa língua, o que se confirmou. A tese confirma a hipótese do "bilinguismo universal" de Roeper (1999) não apenas para o estágio inicial, mas para os estágios intermediário e final.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Aquisição de linguagem. Gramática gerativa. Aquisição da segunda língua. Sujeito nulo. Princípios e parâmetros.ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the acquisition of the null subject in Brasilian Portuguese (BP) as a second language (L2) by native adult speakers of English and Italian, in a situation of total immersion. The research was developed within the framework of the Principles and Parameters Theory (CHOMSKY, 1981, 1986) and the Minimalist Program (CHOMSKY, 1993, 1995, 2000). The research attempted to investigate whether the L2 leaners have access to Universal Grammar (UG) and what the form of that access would be. The results of the analysis confirmed a) the hypothesis of direct access to UG , throught the use of the pro-drop parameter's default value = null or over subjects + the one-person agreement verbal form, in the production of English and Italian Speakers in the initial phase of acquisition. Considering that pro-drop languages do not constitute a single type, it was hypothesized that, based upon data from the input the learners would present the pro-drop of BP, starting by the acquisitionof the agreement in that language, which was confirmed. The analysis confirms the "universal bilinguism" hypotesis (ROEPER, 1999), not only for inatial stage of aquisition, but also for the intermediate and final stages.KEYWORDS: Language acquisition. Second language acquisition. Generative grammar. Null subject. Principles and parameters.

The Minimalist Program

1998 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAN-WOUTER ZWART
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Linguistic Theory ◽  
Noam Chomsky ◽  
Principles And Parameters

Noam Chomsky,The Minimalist Program. (Current Studies in Linguistics 28.) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995. Pp. 420.The Minimalist Program, by Noam Chomsky, is a collection of four articles, ‘The Theory of Principles and Parameters’ (written with Howard Lasnik, 13–127), ‘Some notes on Economy of Derivation and representation’ (129–166), ‘A Minimalist Program for linguistic theory’ (167–217), and ‘Categories and transformations’ (219–394). The first three articles have appeared elsewhere, and are reprinted here with minor revisions. The fourth was circulated in manuscript form earlier in 1995 and is commonly referred to as ‘Chapter four’. The volume opens with an ‘Introduction’ (1–11) and closes with a general bibliography and an index (395–420).The work collected here is based on material presented by Chomsky, and discussed by participating students, faculty, and visitors, in Chomsky's fall term lecture-seminars at MIT in the period of 1986 through 1994. For those who have ever wanted to attend these class lectures, but were never in the position to, this is a must read. The MIT Press is to be commended for having made this collection available in such an exemplary inexpensive volume.

Symptomatic imperfections David Adger, Core syntax: a Minimalist approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Pp. xiii+424. Andrew Radford, Minimalist syntax: exploring the structure of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Pp. xiii+512.

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
ASH ASUDEH ◽  
IDA TOIVONEN
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
Oxford University ◽  
Minimalist Approach ◽  
Oxford University Press ◽  
Minimalist Syntax ◽  
Principles And Parameters

Minimalist syntax and Core syntax are reasonably good textbooks. They should be very helpful indeed in teaching a syntax course on current Principles and Parameters theory (P&P; Chomsky 1981) that focuses on the Minimalist Program (MP; Chomsky 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005). The books present a range of syntactic phenomena, which are for the most part discussed lucidly and illustrated by considerable relevant data. Nevertheless, the books are not pedagogically faultless and the pedagogical faults are often due to underlying theoretical problems.

scholarly journals Zum Pronomen es bei Wetterverben im Jiddischen im Vergleich zu deutschen und polnischen Entsprechungen

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 87-109
Author(s):  
Anna Pilarski
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Syntactic Features ◽  
Feature Checking ◽  
Principles And Parameters

Pronoun “es” used with weather verbs in Yiddish in comparison with German and PolishThe object of research are sentences containing weather verbs in Yiddish. The aspect of main in­terest here is the issue of syntactic features of the pronoun “es” and of the degree to which these features are similar to these present in German and Polish as two contact languages present in the development of Yiddish. On the basis of syntactic tests following questions are examined: how many different positions in a sentence can the es-elements occupy?, in which configurations can their lexical realisation be omitted and in which is it obligatory? In both Yiddish and German there is a differentiation between 1 quasi-argument es, which is marked with respect to the grammatical case and is feature-specific, and 2 syntactic expletive proper, which is not feature-specific and does not contribute to meaning but only has a syntactic role. In Polish as a pro-drop-language a quasi-argument pro and an expletive pro are assumed. The theoretical basis for the analysis in the paper are the Principles and Parameters framework P&P as well as the Minimalist Program MP by Chomsky. It is demonstrated here that what is responsible for assigning the position of the es-Elements and for its structuring possibilities is a specific feature-checking process.

scholarly journals To See a World in a Grain of Sand: Review of Legate (2014)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Hsin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Thematic Role ◽  
Austronesian Language ◽  
Verb Phrase ◽  
Causative Constructions ◽  
Linguistic Understanding ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Verb Phrases ◽  
Case Licensing ◽  
Seminal Article

Voice and v is an investigation of the syntax of an understudied Western Austronesian language, Acehnese, with a particular interest in its implications for the theory of verb phrase structure under the framework of the Minimalist Program. Since Pylkkänen's seminal article, the idea that the functional projection of verb phrases involves two distinct layers—a higher one (that is, Voice) that is responsible for introducing the external thematic role and Case-licensing the internal argument, and a lower one (that is, v) that is responsible for introducing causative semantics and verbalizing the root—has been advanced in a series of works under the Minimalist Program. This book presents novel evidence for this hypothesis based on an in-depth analysis of Acehnese passive, object voice, and causative constructions. Building on the empirical observations from Acehnese, the book makes further explorations of the syntactic typology of passives and causatives, on which the Acehnese data shed light. It contributes not only to the description and analysis of an understudied language, but also to the cross-linguistic understanding of the different flavors of Voice and the architecture of verb phrase structures.

The Basics of Generative Grammars

2020 ◽  
pp. 45-92
Author(s):  
Georges Rey
Keyword(s):  
Negative Polarity ◽  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Negative Polarity Items ◽  
Polarity Items ◽  
Historical Developments ◽  
Technical Terms ◽  
Principles And Parameters

This chapter offers explanations of some basic technical terms, and a sketch of the historical developments and continuity of Chomskyan theories: the early formal presentations; the 1965 Aspects model; issues about generative semantics, “Autonomy of Syntax” and what I call “teleotyranny”; the Principles and Parameters model; the Minimalist Program; and Chomsky’s “Third Factor” neural and evolutionary speculations. All of these developments should be regarded as they were always intended, not as finished theories, but as the development of increasingly deep and rich strategies for explaining the crucial data. The chapter concludes with two relatively simple, representative explanations: the constraints on negative polarity items (NPIs) and on binding.

COMPUTER MODELING OF CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUMS IN WO3–H2O SYSTEM

2017 ◽  
pp. 35-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.P. Bondarenko ◽  
O.O. Matviichuk
Keyword(s):  
Transition Temperature ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Reference Data ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Reaction Products ◽  
Influence Of Temperature ◽  
Equilibrium Chemical ◽  
Program Data ◽  
Good Agreement

Detail investigation of equilibrium chemical reactions in WO3–H2O system using computer program FacktSage with the aim to establish influence of temperature and quantity of water on formation of compounds of H2WO4 and WO2(OH)2 as well as concomitant them compounds, evaporation products, decomposition and dissociation, that are contained in the program data base were carried out. Calculations in the temperature range from 100 to 3000 °С were carried out. The amount moles of water added to 1 mole of WO3 was varied from 0 to 27. It is found that the obtained data by the melting and evaporation temperatures of single-phase WO3 are in good agreement with the reference data and provide additionally detailed information on the composition of the gas phase. It was shown that under heating of 1 mole single-phase WO3 up to 3000 °С the predominant oxide that exist in gaseous phase is (WO3)2. Reactions of it formation from other oxides ((WO3)3 and (WO3)4) were proposed. It was established that compound H2WO4 is stable and it is decomposed on WO3 and H2O under 121 °C. Tungsten Oxide Hydrate WO2(OH)2 first appears under 400 °С and exists up to 3000 °С. Increasing quantity of Н2О in system leads to decreasing transition temperature of WO3 into both liquid and gaseous phases. It was established that adding to 1 mole WO3 26 mole H2O maximum amount (0,9044–0,9171 mole) WO2(OH)2 under temperatures 1400–1600 °С can be obtained, wherein the melting stage of WO3 is omitted. Obtained data also allowed to state that that from 121 till 400 °С WO3–Н2O the section in the О–W–H ternary system is partially quasi-binary because under these temperatures in the system only WO3 and Н2O are present. Under higher temperatures WO3–Н2O section becomes not quasi-binary since in the reaction products WO3 with Н2O except WO3 and Н2O, there are significant amounts of WO2(OH)2, (WO3)2, (WO3)3, (WO3)4 and a small amount of atoms and other compounds. Bibl. 12, Fig. 6, Tab. 5.

No fear of George Kingsley Zipf

10.1558/37291 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-263
Author(s):  
Stefano Rastelli ◽  
Kook-Hee Gil
Keyword(s):  
Minimalist Program ◽  
Classroom Research ◽  
Language Design ◽  
Efficient Computation ◽  
Generative Linguistics ◽  
The Third ◽  
Factor Effect ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Insight Into

This paper offers a new insight into GenSLA classroom research in light of recent developments in the Minimalist Program (MP). Recent research in GenSLA has shown how generative linguistics and acquisition studies can inform the language classroom, mostly focusing on what linguistic aspects of target properties should be integrated as a part of the classroom input. Based on insights from Chomsky’s ‘three factors for language design’ – which bring together the Faculty of Language, input and general principles of economy and efficient computation (the third factor effect) for language development – we put forward a theoretical rationale for how classroom research can offer a unique environment to test the learnability in L2 through the statistical enhancement of the input to which learners are exposed.

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