Principles and parameters
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Principles and parameters is a framework within generative linguistics in which the syntax of a natural language is described in accordance with general principles (i.e. abstract rules or grammars) and specific parameters (i.e. markers, switches) that for particular languages are either turned on or off. For example, the position of heads in phrases is determined by a parameter. Whether a language is head-initial or head-final is regarded as a parameter which is either on or off for particular languages (i.e. English is head-initial, whereas Japanese is head-final). Principles and parameters was largely formulated by the linguists Noam Chomsky and Howard Lasnik. Many linguists have worked within this framework, and for a period of time it was considered the dominant form of mainstream generative linguistics.
Examples
Examples of theorized principles are:
- Structure preservation principle
- Trace erasure principle
- Projection principle
- Subjacency principle
- Empty category principle
Examples of theorized parameters are:
- Ergative case parameter
- Head directionality parameter
- Nominal mapping parameter
- Null subject parameter
- Polysynthesis parameter
- Pro-drop parameter
- Serial verb parameter
- Subject placement parameter
- Subject side parameter
- Topic prominent parameter
- Verb attraction parameter
See also
- Government and binding
- Projection Principle
- Extended Projection Principle
- Theta criterion
- Poverty of the stimulus
- Tabula rasa