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Asymmetric Merge and Parataxis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Mark de Vries
Mark de Vries*
Affiliation:
University of Groningen
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Abstract

I argue that syntactic structure encodes three types of asymmetries. The first corresponds to the asymmetry between mother and daughters nodes that is called dominance, that is, syntactic hierarchy. The second is the selectional asymmetry between sister nodes, which is translated into the precedence relation in the phonological component. The third, called behindance, is an alternative to dominance, and corresponds to parataxis. Parenthesis, coordination, and apposition are analyzed on the basis of behindance. In our derivational model of grammar it is defined as a special type of inclusion that blocks c-command. It follows that parenthetic material can neither move toward the matrix, nor be bound by a constituent from the matrix.

Résumé

Résumé

Je propose ici que la structure syntaxique encode trois types d’asymétrie. Le premier type correspond à l’asymétrie entre nœuds mères et filles qui s’appelle la dominance, c’est-à-dire, la hiérarchie syntaxique. Le deuxième type est l’asymétrie sélectionnelle entre nœuds sœurs, qui correspond à la relation de precedence dans le composant phonologique. Le troisième type, appelé arrièrage, est une alternative à la dominance et elle correspond à la parataxe. Les parenthèses, la coordination et l’apposition sont ainsi analysées en termes d’arrièrage. Dans le modèle dérivationnel de la grammaire, l’arrièrage est défini comme étant un type particulier d’inclusion qui bloque la c-commande. Il s’ensuit que le matériel en parenthèses ne peut ni se déplacer vers la phrase matrice, ni être liée par un constituant de celle-ci.

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Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 53 , Issue 2-3 , November 2008 , pp. 355 - 385
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Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2008 

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