Principles and Parameters: An Introduction to Syntactic Theory

by Peter W. Culicover

Book Overview

This authoritative survey shows readers how specific methodological assumptions underlie the core analyses on which syntactic theory is based. The author, an internationally respected figure in the field, gives extensive treatment of Government and Binding (GB) theory and summarizes the major proposals and results of Case theory, Theta theory, X' theory, Binding theory, the theory of A- and A' movement, locality conditions, and the theory of Logical...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198700148
• ISBN13: 9780198700142
• Release Date: February 1997
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 460 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A book review

I have used this book, along with other similar sources, for writing a parametric grammar of Persian.The book is coherently organized into ten chapters: 1.Foundations Methods,Arguments,2.Government and Case, 3.Binding Theory,4.A-Movement,5.X'-Theory,6.A'-Movement,7.Barriers,8.LF Representation,9.Binding and Logical Form.10.Head Movement and Minimalism.Beginning with the second chapter the author picks up a syntactic problem and critically examines the solutions offered by linguists. For instance,in chapter four he concentrates on the analysis of the passive and its properties, namely, the movement of the underlying object into the surface subject position of the sentense in terms of a lexical analysis, a movement hypothesis and a chain relationship.Moreover, at the end of each chapter there are ample exercises from varius languages ( except Persian, of course) for readers / students to ponder over. Crucially,readers/students can familiarize themselves with current linguistic as well as syntactic issues and their proposed solutions. Nevertheless, the book suffers from a couple of drawbacks concerning the ultimate plausible solution for each problem and , more significantly, the definition of principles and parameters as a theoretical foundation / approach selected by the author,as the title suggests.I consider the latter a critical issue because there seems to be a fair degree of concensus among researchers concerning the principles which describe univerasl properties of grammatical operations or structures.However, differences of opinions arise regarding the parameters and the components of the language in which they have to be found. According to Chomsy, parameters are associated with the principles of Universal Grammar.Other linguists attribute them to the inflectional system of the language, the fuctional categories or lexical categories in general.From this book one cannot understand the author's position on the theory of parametrisation.

A Critical Introduction to the GB Theory

Since Chomsky established the GB model in the early 1980's, many introductory books have been published. Culicover's book came out by the end of the GB fashion when most people were attracted by Chomsky's new ideas of the minimalist program (MP). However, this book is not out of date at all, since Culicover illustrated the GB theory in a very critical way providing with quite a number of problems which cannot be solved at ease within the GB framework. All those problems are interesting issues that generative syntax has to manage. Though the author gave some suggestions, the issues remained open both to the GB framework and the MP followers. After reading this book, you may realize that the GB model is not as good as most people believe and that the burden of the MP will be heavier when it has to take over what left insolvable in the GB.