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In a pioneer paper, Featherston (Featherston, Sam. 2007. Data in generative grammar: The stick and the carrot. Theoretical Linguistics 33. 269–318) advocated the use of better controlled data in theoretical linguistics. Despite diverging on many aspects, most syntactic theories are now testing their hypotheses with more data than a few linguists' intuitions. I will examine the consequences of this empirical turn on two syntactic phenomena: long-distance dependencies (LDD) and ellipsis. In a series of recent experiments (Liu, Yingtong, Elodie Winckel, Anne Abeillé, Barbara Hemforth & Edward Gibson. 2022. Structural, functional and processing perspectives on linguistic islands effects. Annual Review of Linguistics 8. 495–525), most of the syntactic constraints ('island constraints') on LDD have shown less crosslinguistic variation and more cross-construction variation than previously thought. Corpus and experimental data have also shown elliptical clauses to be more flexible than expected under deletion-under-identity theories (Poppels, Till. 2022. Explaining ellipsis without identity. The Linguistic Review 39. 341–400). These are challenges for most syntactic theories, which call for taking discourse factors more seriously into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review some of the main goals of theoretical linguistics in the tradition of Generative Grammar: description, evolvability and learnability. We evaluate recent efforts to address these goals, culminating with the Minimalist Program. We suggest that the most prominent versions of the Minimalist Program represent just one possible approach to addressing these goals, and not a particularly illuminating one in many respects. Some desirable features of an alternative minimalist theory are the dissociation between syntax and linear order, the emphasis on representational economy (i.e. Simpler Syntax) and an extra-grammatical account of non-local constraints (e.g. islands). We conclude with the outline of an alternative minimalist perspective that we believe points to more satisfactory accounts of the observed phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article devises an analytical framework that synthesizes neo-Gramscian and social constructivist perspectives to dissect international regimes amid global hegemonic shifts. It portrays regimes as intersubjective constructs with unique social purposes within the broader hegemonic fabric, shaped by dominant ideologies and power distributions. The study examines the transition of the trade regime from General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to World Trade Organization (WTO) through the Uruguay Round (1986-1994) and the Doha Round's deadlock since 2001. The article posits that the Uruguay Round marked a pivotal hegemonic transformation, transitioning the regime from embedded liberalism to neoliberalism by transforming its social purpose, norms, and generative grammar. Yet, this shift, which precipitated a legitimacy crisis within the WTO and was exacerbated by the Doha Round's failure to regenerate neoliberal hegemony with a fresh synthesis of free trade and sustainable development, arguably rendered the WTO directionless and contributed to the fragmentation of global trade governance amidst emerging regional pacts and varied ideological visions of economic liberalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present contribution starts from Goldberg and Perek's (2019) analysis of gapping within a constructionist framework. The authors promote their analysis as surpassing non-constructionist takes on gapping and ellipsis more generally. In particular, they claim predictive power. That this is not the whole truth is explained in detail in this contribution. It is shown which predictions can be made from their perspective versus from a generative perspective and it is discussed whether they are borne out. Furthermore, I highlight how the predictions relate to the fundamentals of the respective theories and, as a consequence, how they differ in kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue examines the question of how both formal(ist) and functional(ist) accounts or elements of theorizing can contribute to the explanation of (morpho)syntactic variation. Are formal and functional approaches really irreconcilable with each other, as often seems to be taken for granted by their respective advocates? It will be argued instead that they are rather complementary and that both can make a valuable contribution to explaining linguistic variation, in synchronic as well as diachronic respects. The integration of ways of looking at a certain phenomenon or problem from the respective other camp is proven to provide a significant added value and should not be excluded. The volume focuses on several Germanic languages and dialects, more specifically on German, Dutch, and Swedish varieties. It unites different formal and functional perspectives and, not least, it considers also semantic and phonological factors. The models covered include different versions of generative grammar, information-based morphology, construction grammar/construction morphology, natural morphology, and sociolinguistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike wh-question questions in Standard Arabic (SA), which received much attention in the past decades in different approaches within generative grammar, question particles (yes-no questions) in SA have not yet been studied thoroughly in minimalist syntax, and less attention has been paid to them. There is a need to analyze SA question articles and explore their syntactic behavior within minimalism. The reason why this topic has been selected for study is that SA question particles have not been investigated in detail yet in Chomsky's Phase Theory; it has not been analyzed how question particles are derived and represented morpho-syntactically in a clause structure. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the morpho-syntax of SA question particles and provide satisfactory answers to the following questions: (i) Do question particles in SA undergo any syntactic movement to [Spec-CP] in the derivation of yes-no questions? If not, why?, (ii) Are question particles based-generated in [Spec-CP]?, and (iii) How can question particles be accounted for neatly in Chomsky's Phase-based Theory? The paper adopts Chomsky's Phase Theory to examine the interaction between the assumptions of this theory and the SA data on question particles. The study findings reveal that, unlike English, question particles in SA do not undergo any syntactic movement while deriving yes-no questions and are assumed to be base-generated in [Spec-CP]. Such question particles are not part of the verb morphology and are merely morphological affixes used as devices to mark interrogativity in the syntax; they do not carry any agreement and tense features that trigger syntactic movement to the clause-initial position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between theory and observation in scientific research, specifically in the field of linguistics. It discusses different perspectives on the role of observation and data in linguistic research, with a focus on generative syntax. The article emphasizes the importance of intuitive judgments and introspective data in this field, while also acknowledging the value of linguistic corpora and experimental methods. It concludes by presenting two papers that offer new perspectives on existing data in linguistics. The article is part of a collection of papers written to honor the 90th birthday of Mary A. Kato, a respected linguist. These papers cover various topics in linguistics, including language acquisition, syntax, semantics, and the use of judgment data in research. The authors present their findings based on extensive research and analysis of data from different sources, such as corpora and experimental studies. The papers provide valuable insights into the field of linguistics and highlight the significance of judgment data in linguistic research. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a review of the book "Generative Linguistics: A Historical Perspective" by Frederick J. Newmeyer. The reviewer praises the book's comprehensive coverage of the history of generative linguistics, specifically the transition from post-Bloomfieldian structuralism to transformational-generative grammar (TGG). The book examines the impact of Noam Chomsky's work on linguistics, the reception of TGG in Europe, and the contested elections within the Linguistic Society of America (LSA). The reviewer commends Newmeyer's use of personal correspondence and archival material to provide a nuanced understanding of the field's development, and suggests that the book may inspire further research on the history of linguistics. [Extracted from the article]

Exocentric compounds, also referred to as bahuvrihi compounds, are distinguishable from other classes of compounds, e.g., endocentric, in the ground that their meanings are unpredictable and idiosyncratic. For this single most important reason, these compounds have been marginalized and didn't receive as closer attention as the other classes. But the question is, are these types of choices really random? Their mere scale of productivity would deny the assumption that they are random and unsystematic. This paper originates in the assumption that these compounds in fact lend sufficient evidence that their formation and 'idiosyncratic' interpretation is on the other hand very systematic and can be explained elegantly if we bring into perspective the cultural aspect which regulates their formation through the mechanism of metonymic/metaphoric relations. In order to substantiate the claim, this study designed an exercise for Punjabi language speakers/experts where they were given novel (non-prevalent) exocentric compounds and were asked to interpret them. The study lent a great deal of support to the view adopted that the culturally shared knowledge allowed the respondents to interpret these exocentric compounds fairly correctly. The results are encouraging that the cultural aspect of the compounds holds true which explains the assumption that these types of compounds are systematic and a rule governed phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ross (1967) observed that the coordinate structure constraint can be violated in certain semantically asymmetric structures. In this article we consider one of these structures, namely type A coordination, in detail (the terminology is from Lakoff 1986; an example is Here's the whisky I went to the store and bought). We present experimental evidence showing that the pattern of argument and adjunct extraction from type A coordinate structures matches the pattern of argument and adjunct extraction from structures containing rationale clauses in all crucial respects. This near-perfect parallel behavior suggests that, like rationale clauses, the second conjunct in a type A coordination is an adjunct (see also Brown 2017). We explore the consequences of this finding for both interpretive and syntactic analyses of asymmetric coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we first introduce the notion of (incident) higher-order generalized epiderivative for a set-valued map and obtain a crucial result of the epiderivative. Then we use this result to establish the higher-order sufficient and necessary optimality conditions of a constrained set-valued optimization problem. By virtue of the epiderivatives and the optimality conditions, we establish the higher-order mixed duality problem for the set-valued optimization problem and obtain the corresponding duality theorems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impersonal constructions describe generic statements, usually about people. In this article, I discuss implications of impersonal constructions for Generative theories of morphological features, grammatical case, verbal projections, and how referentiality is derived in the syntax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses a book titled "Construction Grammar across Borders," which explores the field of Construction Grammar and its impact on various areas of linguistic study. The book includes chapters that examine the theoretical compatibility of Construction Grammar with related approaches, the role of semantics in grammatical description, and the application of Construction Grammar in historical linguistics. The authors present different perspectives and propose new ideas within the framework of Construction Grammar. The book aims to contribute to the ongoing progress and evolution of Construction Grammar as a field of study. [Extracted from the article]

For centuries, transforming the cubic space to a spherical dome was a matter of challenge, structurally and formally. The squinch was the primary solution to build the 'divine' sphere over basic cubic chambers in palaces and mosques in Iran (Memarian et al. in J Iran Archit Urban 8(2):75–84, 2017) that mediated its geometric transformation. In this research, the authors will answer the question of where and how did this innovative transformative squinch, or as it will be defined here, 'chapireh,' become quintessential for all generative Islamic tectonics like karbandi and ornaments like muqarnas. For that purpose, we simulated and modeled different types of Islamic tectonics and their bottom-up formation process from early generations of the transformative chapireh to the complex evolved version of the tectonic. Towards this end, we approach chapireh through a shape grammar as a generative computational tool for forming new tectonics out of basic Islamic modules and simple rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Current Issues in Syntactic Cartography: A crosslinguistic perspective" edited by Fuzhen Si and Luigi Rizzi provides a comprehensive study of syntactic cartography. The book is organized into 12 papers that focus on theoretical and descriptive issues of specific aspects of syntactic cartography. The chapters cover topics such as the left periphery, the Inflection Phrase (IP) zone, and the Verb Phrase (VP) zone. The book includes contributions from leading scholars and explores various languages, including Romance, Germanic, Semitic, Japanese, and Chinese. It is recommended for linguists interested in generative syntax and offers new theories and unfamiliar data for exploration. [Extracted from the article]

At the present study, some Morpho-phonological processes in Azeri Turkish, Zanjani Dialect were studied based on Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolenski, 1993). This was a descriptive-analytical study and was based on interviews with 30 native speakers (between 15 and 75 years old) of Zanjan in three groups of adolescents, middle-aged, and the elderly (each group included 10 interviewees). Their voices were recorded and later were transcribed. All the words were transcribed based on IPA, version 2005. Constraints were identified and ranked. Those constraints which were of two kinds (markedness and faithfulness) competed against one another to select the optimal candidate. Results illustrated that ONSET and HARMONY were high-ranked constraints, whereas IDENT-IO constraint was low-ranked one, the violation of which didn't render the candidate non-optimal. It can also be concluded that morpho-phonological rules in Turkish Azeri, Zanjani Dialect could be analyzed via the optimality theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Where are features?" by Lohndal and Putnam discusses a theoretical framework for understanding the grammatical competence of monolingual and multilingual speakers. The authors argue for an approach that separates syntax and morphology, with features situated in the syntactic component and realized post-syntactically in morphology. The article also explores the connection between grammatical theory and research on contact-induced change, advocating for a theoretical debate on the architecture of grammar. The author of the commentary agrees with the goal of integrating the study of contact phenomena into the theoretical debate, but disagrees with some of the specific assumptions made by Lohndal and Putnam. They argue that morphology is an autonomous component of grammar and provide evidence from their own research on morphological borrowing to support this view. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the importance of studying multilingual grammars in order to understand the nature of linguistic capacity. It argues that most humans are multilingual, and therefore, the study of language should accommodate multilingualism. The article also explores the challenges associated with bringing multilingualism into syntactic theory and the need to understand monolingual grammars before studying multilingual grammars. It suggests that a scientific approach should be taken to investigate the extent to which the same grammatical architecture is used in both monolingual and multilingual speakers. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for theories that can handle inter and intraspeaker variation in multilingual contexts. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Number feature within generative grammar and its acquisition" discusses different theoretical proposals regarding the representation of number in syntax and its implications for language acquisition. The authors argue that the exoskeletal approach to grammar, which focuses on the contribution of underlying syntactic features and their morphophonological exponents, needs further development. They also highlight the need to consider the pragmatic component of number and its interaction with reference in acquisition studies. The article provides insights into the acquisition of number in monolingual and bilingual speakers, as well as the challenges faced by the exoskeletal approach in accounting for different languages and levels of proficiency. [Extracted from the article]

Simple rewriting rules are used to produce alphanumeric strings that embed fractal number sequences and are directly translatable into descriptions of hydrocarbon structures of considerable complexity, featuring hierarchical schemes. Rotations of the alphanumeric strings lead to radical rearrangements of the corresponding structures, which lose their initial schemes and become much less predictable, featuring different topologies of polygonal cycles. This shows that a complex and not necessarily ordered molecular structure may nevertheless have a relatively low algorithmic complexity. The variety and versatility of reorganization in chemical topology, due to the nonlocal representation of bonds in the coding string, may have played a role in prebiotic chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formal tools and models of syntactic pattern recognition which are used in bioinformatics are introduced and characterized in the paper. They include, among others: stochastic (string) grammars and automata, hidden Markov models, programmed grammars, attributed grammars, stochastic tree grammars, Tree Adjoining Grammars (TAGs), algebraic dynamic programming, NLC- and NCE-type graph grammars, and algebraic graph transformation systems. The survey of applications of these formal tools and models in bioinformatics is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Histoire des parties du discours" by Bernard Colombat and Aimée Lahaussois provides a comprehensive historical overview of the parts of speech and their development in language sciences. The book covers the early approaches in Platonic dialogues, Aristotelian and Stoic Logic, the Latin grammatical tradition, and their reception in humanist and vernacular grammaticography. It also explores the application of parts of speech in different language traditions, such as Arabic and Sanskrit. The book is the result of years of research by a group dedicated to the history of conceptions about language and serves as a valuable tool for research in the field. [Extracted from the article]