Phase Theory is the latest empirical and conceptual innovation in syntactic theory within the Chomskyan generative tradition. Adopting a cross-linguistic perspective, this book provides an introduction to Phase Theory, tracing the development of phases in minimalist syntax.
The book explores the symmetric properties of three fundamental mechanisms in minimalist syntax: merge, move, and labeling. It delves into how these processes interact and contribute to the structure of language, providing insights into the theoretical underpinnings of syntax. By focusing on these core elements, the work aims to enhance understanding of minimalist approaches and their implications for linguistic theory.
An argument that Merge is binary but its binarity refers to syntactic positions rather than objects. In this book, Barbara Citko and Martina Gračanin-Yüksek examine the constraints on Merge--the basic structure-building operation in minimalist syntax--from a multidominant perspective. They maintain that Merge is binary, but argue that the binarity of Merge refers to syntactic positions Merge relates: what has typically been formulated as a constraint that prevents Merge from combining more than two syntactic objects is a constraint on Merge's relating more than two syntactic positions.