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The minimalist program in syntax
1Dept of Linguistics, University of Maryland, 1106 Marie Mount Hall, 20742, College Park, MD, USA
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|November 5, 2002
Summary
The Minimalist program simplifies linguistic theory by viewing language as a perfect system relating sound and meaning. Research aims to reduce complexity by focusing on deeper, simpler properties and economy principles.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Computational Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The Minimalist program evolved from transformational generative grammar.
- It posits language's computational system perfectly relates sound and meaning.
- Recent research addresses complexities in earlier linguistic models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and eliminate complexities in linguistic models.
- To demonstrate how apparent complexities arise from simpler, deeper properties.
- To apply principles of economy and computational simplicity to syntax.
Main Methods:
- Reducing levels of linguistic representation.
- Deducing syntactic constraints from general principles.
- Analyzing computational properties of language.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of apparent complexities arising from simpler underlying principles.
- Reduction in the number of abstract linguistic levels.
- Identification of economy and simplicity as key drivers of syntactic structure.
Conclusions:
- The Minimalist program offers a more parsimonious account of human language.
- Linguistic complexity can be explained through fundamental computational and economic principles.
- Further research can refine the model by exploring these core properties.