Generative approaches

Abstract

This chapter introduces generative approaches to syntax. Because space prevents full discussion of the many existing approaches we have chosen to focus on derivational (‘transformational’) approaches, essentially along the lines developed by Chomsky and many others. The most recent incarnation of this specific approach is called ‘The Minimalist Program’, or just ‘Minimalism’: it is an approach which crucially attempts to reduce the inventory of concepts and operations that are postulated as part of the grammar. Rather than presenting a survey of the history of generative grammar (see Freidin 2007 and Lasnik and Lohndal 2013 inter alia) or focussing on one incarnation of the theory, which inevitably has limited shelf-life, our chapter highlights the long-standing and constant ingredients of the mainstream theory such as hierarchy, configuration, abstract structure, movement, dependencies, and not least, argumentation. By focusing on the theory-driven deductive argumentation we hope to be able to bring out important aspects of how syntax is done within generative approaches. <p>

<p>In terms of its philosophical tenets, ‘Chomskyan’ generative grammar is characterized by an explicit mentalist perspective, which sets it apart from other generative approaches. Because of this latter factor and for reasons of space, we will not have anything to say about the philosophy of mainstream generative grammar; see e.g., Boeckx (2006) and Smith and Allott (2015) on this. <p>

<p>This chapter is organized as follows. Section 2 focuses on the concept of hierarchical structure and introduces the structural relation ‘c-command’, which is shown to play a crucial role in a number of syntactic dependencies. Section 3 explores the concept of abstract structure through an examination of the impact of syntactic movement on the structure. Arguments are developed to the effect that copies that are the result of movement may play a role in interpretive processes. Pursuing the role of abstract structure in the argumentation, section 4 examines some syntactic properties of VP ellipsis. Arguments are developed to show that while not associated with any overt material the ellipsis site has internal structure. Section 5 summarises the chapter.