
Published online:
22 August 2013
Published in print:
11 September 2009
Online ISBN:
9780262258586
Print ISBN:
9780262013567
Contents
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Abstract Abstract
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Introduction Introduction
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(1) Everyone who knows Mary says she likes Bill. (1) Everyone who knows Mary says she likes Bill.
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Merge as the Central Process in Syntax Merge as the Central Process in Syntax
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(2) (2)
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Binding Binding
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(3) Everyone who knows Mary thinks she likes Bill. (3) Everyone who knows Mary thinks she likes Bill.
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(4) John believes that stories about himself are exaggerated. (4) John believes that stories about himself are exaggerated.
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(5) Mary saw a snake near her. (5) Mary saw a snake near her.
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Control Control
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(6) Mary expects to arrive shortly. (6) Mary expects to arrive shortly.
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(7) Mary told Bill to leave immediately. (7) Mary told Bill to leave immediately.
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(8) Bill promised Mary to leave immediately. (8) Bill promised Mary to leave immediately.
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Movement Movement
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(9) Who did Mary see—? (9) Who did Mary see—?
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(10) Mary saw who? (10) Mary saw who?
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(11) Who do you think Bill believes that Mary saw—? (11) Who do you think Bill believes that Mary saw—?
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(12) (12)
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(13) (13)
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Reference of Empty Categories Reference of Empty Categories
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(14) (14)
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(15) Mary is too angry—to talk to—. (15) Mary is too angry—to talk to—.
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(16) (16)
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(17) Mary needs somebody—to talk to—. (17) Mary needs somebody—to talk to—.
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Beyond Analysis Beyond Analysis
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Chapter
1 Syntax for Non-syntacticians A Brief Primer
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Pages
2–13
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Published:September 2009
Cite
Derek, Bickerton, 'Syntax for Non-syntacticians A Brief Primer', in Derek Bickerton, and Eörs Szathmáry (eds), Biological Foundations and Origin of Syntax (Cambridge, MA , 2009; online edn, MIT Press Scholarship Online, 22 Aug. 2013), https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262013567.003.0001, accessed 5 May 2025.
Abstract
This chapter describes and illustrates some of the most basic concepts and processes in syntax such as Merge, binding, control, movement, and empty categories. It first considers the hierarchical structure of syntax and how syntactic trees reflect the way sentences must be constructed. It then discusses Noam Chomsky’s Minimalist Program, the relationship between anaphors and their antecedents, and the movement of constituents of sentences. Finally, the chapter offers some suggestions regarding possible avenues of approach to understand better how syntax is instantiated in the human mind/brain.
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