Minimalist Program

E32213

The Minimalist Program is a theoretical framework in generative linguistics, developed by Noam Chomsky, that seeks to explain language using the simplest and most economical principles and mechanisms possible.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf approach in generative grammar
linguistic theory
theoretical framework
aimsTo derive linguistic phenomena from economy principles
explain properties of natural language with minimal theoretical machinery
assumes Universal Grammar
language faculty is an optimal solution to interface conditions
basedOn economy of derivation
economy of representation
principle of least effort
contrastsWith functionalist approaches to language
usage-based theories of grammar
coreIdea grammars are constrained by economy principles
language is an optimal solution to interface conditions
movement is a special case of Merge
syntactic structures are built from the bottom up by Merge
countryOfOrigin United States
creator Noam Chomsky
developedAt Massachusetts Institute of Technology
field generative linguistics
syntax
theoretical linguistics
focusesOn computational system of human language
syntactic derivations
hasComponent interfaces with articulatory-perceptual system
interfaces with conceptual-intentional system
narrow syntax
hasNotableProponent Guglielmo Cinque
Howard Lasnik
Juan Uriagereka
Noam Chomsky
Norbert Hornstein
inception early 1990s
influenced cartographic approaches to syntax
minimalist syntax
phase theory
influencedBy biolinguistics
cognitive science
introducesConcept Merge
Move as internal Merge
economy conditions on movement
feature checking
phases
strong and weak features
keyWork Bare Phrase Structure
Minimalist Inquiries
The Minimalist Program (1995 book)
languageOfWork English
mainSubject human language faculty
precededBy Government and Binding theory
relatedTo Principles and Parameters framework


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