The Parameter in Generative Grammar: A History of a Concept

Alessandro Riolfi

doi:10.1017/9781009022873

Focusing on the development of Noam Chomsky's linguistic framework, this book is the first full-length, in-depth treatment of the history of the concept of parameter, a central notion of syntactic theory. Spanning 60 years of syntactic theory, it explores all aspects of its development through the different phases of the Chomskyan school, from the 'standard theory' of the mid-1960 to the current Minimalist Program. Emphasis is put on three main topics: the foundational issues in the formulation of the Principles and Parameters model; the original formulation of the “classical” parameters of the Government-Binding Theory of the 1980s (which are then evaluated from the perspective of Chomskyan thought today), and current debates on the nature of parametric variation in light of Generative Grammar's most recent theoretical developments. Through step-by-step, detailed explanations, it provides the reader with a comprehensive account of both parametric theory and the development of Generative Grammar.

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Contents

The Parameter in Generative Grammar
pp i-ii
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The Parameter in Generative Grammar - Title page
pp iii-iii
A History of a Concept
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Copyright page
pp iv-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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Acknowledgments
pp vii-viii
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Introduction
pp 1-2
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2 - The Formulation of the Main Parameters of the Government-Binding Theory
pp 34-151
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3 - The Development of the Concept of Parameter in Minimalism
pp 152-202
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4 - The Main Parameters of the Government-Binding Theory in Current Generative Theory
pp 203-255
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5 - The Head-Complement Parameter
pp 256-313
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6 - Some Concluding Remarks on Parameterization
pp 314-318
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References
pp 319-329
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Index of Languages
pp 330-331
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Index of Names
pp 332-333
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Subject Index
pp 334-340
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The Parameter in Generative Grammar

A History of a Concept

Book description

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Contents

The Parameter in Generative Grammar
pp i-ii

The Parameter in Generative Grammar - Title page
pp iii-iii

Copyright page
pp iv-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Acknowledgments
pp vii-viii

Introduction
pp 1-2

1 - The Birth of the Concept of Parameter in Generative Grammar and Its Development until Lectures on Government and Binding
pp 3-33

2 - The Formulation of the Main Parameters of the Government-Binding Theory
pp 34-151

3 - The Development of the Concept of Parameter in Minimalism
pp 152-202

4 - The Main Parameters of the Government-Binding Theory in Current Generative Theory
pp 203-255

5 - The Head-Complement Parameter
pp 256-313

6 - Some Concluding Remarks on Parameterization
pp 314-318

References
pp 319-329

Index of Languages
pp 330-331

Index of Names
pp 332-333

Subject Index
pp 334-340

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A History of a Concept

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