9 - Phases

Summary

Overview

In this chapter, we look at recent work by Chomsky suggesting that syntactic structure is built up in phases (with phases including CP and transitive vP). At the end of each phase, part of the syntactic structure already formed undergoes transfer to the phonological and semantic components, with the result that the relevant part of the structure is inaccessible to further syntactic operations from that point on. (An incidental point of detail to note is that I shall simplify exposition – and follow Chomsky – by adopting a split projection analysis of Verb Phrases, but not of TP or CP constituents.)

Phases

In chapter 7, we noted Chomsky's claim that syntactic operations involve a relation between a probe P and a local goal G which is sufficiently ‘close’ to the probe (or, in the case of multiple agreement, a relation between a probe and more than one local goal). However, an important question to ask is why probe–goal relations must be local. In this connection, Chomsky (2001, p. 13) remarks that ‘the P, G relation must be local’ in order ‘to minimise search’ (i.e. in order to ensure that a minimal amount of searching will enable a probe to find an appropriate goal). His claim that locality is forced by the need ‘to minimise search’ suggests a processing explanation (albeit Chomsky has always maintained that the overall goal of linguistic theory is to develop a theory of competence rather than of performance).