Goals and Basic Assumptions

Ian Roberts

doi:10.1017/9781009291682.003

1 - Goals and Basic Assumptions

from Part I - Configuration and Hierarchy

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Ian Roberts

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Ian Roberts: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

This chapter looks at the overall goals of generative syntax. It then moves on to a discussion of levels of adequacy for linguistic theory. This leads to a very brief discussion of the development of generative theory since its inception in the 1950s, up to its current version, known as the Minimalist Programme. Finally, we begin the discussion of hierarchy with an exposition of the X-bar theory of phrase structure and the notion of constituency tests as a probe for hierarchical structure.

Keywords

linguistic theory syntactic theory generative grammar X-bar theory constituency tests

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Continuing Syntax
Hierarchy and Locality
, pp. 3 - 28

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009291682.003 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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