The macroparameter in a microparametric world
-
Mark C. Baker
Abstract
This paper considers the role of macroparameters in parametric theory. It
is argued that a system in which all syntactic variation is ascribed solely to
microparametric differences in the make-up of functional heads, as assumed
under the so-called Borer-Chomsky Conjecture, cannot account for actually
attested patterns of variation. In the word-order domain, for example, the facts
seem to point to the kind of bimodal distribution expected on a macroparametric
view, with microparameters accounting for the observed “noise”. A similar
scenario is also argued to obtain in the domain of agreement, once two new
macroparameters, presented here, are taken into account.
Abstract
This paper considers the role of macroparameters in parametric theory. It
is argued that a system in which all syntactic variation is ascribed solely to
microparametric differences in the make-up of functional heads, as assumed
under the so-called Borer-Chomsky Conjecture, cannot account for actually
attested patterns of variation. In the word-order domain, for example, the facts
seem to point to the kind of bimodal distribution expected on a macroparametric
view, with microparameters accounting for the observed “noise”. A similar
scenario is also argued to obtain in the domain of agreement, once two new
macroparameters, presented here, are taken into account.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface & Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
I. The locus of (parametric) variation
- Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universals 75
- Three fundamental issues in parametric linguistics 109
- On the syntactic flexibility of formal features 143
- Expletives, datives, and the tension between morphology and syntax 175
- Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics 219
- Aspect matters in the middle 247
-
II. A classic parameter revisited: the null-subject parameter
- The null subject parameter and correlating properties: The case of Creole languages 271
- The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance 295
- Silent arguments without pro : The case of Basque 311
- Case morphology and radical pro -drop 331
-
III. Parametric clustering
- The macroparameter in a microparametric world 351
- Topic prominence and null subjects 375
- Non-configurationality: Free word order and argument drop in Turkish 411
- Diachronic stability and feature interpretability 441
-
III. The acquisition of parameters
- Can children tell us anything we did not know about parameter clustering? 459
- Parameter setting and input reduction 483
- Index 517
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface & Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
I. The locus of (parametric) variation
- Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universals 75
- Three fundamental issues in parametric linguistics 109
- On the syntactic flexibility of formal features 143
- Expletives, datives, and the tension between morphology and syntax 175
- Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics 219
- Aspect matters in the middle 247
-
II. A classic parameter revisited: the null-subject parameter
- The null subject parameter and correlating properties: The case of Creole languages 271
- The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance 295
- Silent arguments without pro : The case of Basque 311
- Case morphology and radical pro -drop 331
-
III. Parametric clustering
- The macroparameter in a microparametric world 351
- Topic prominence and null subjects 375
- Non-configurationality: Free word order and argument drop in Turkish 411
- Diachronic stability and feature interpretability 441
-
III. The acquisition of parameters
- Can children tell us anything we did not know about parameter clustering? 459
- Parameter setting and input reduction 483
- Index 517
