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Agree in syntax, agreement in signs

Sigurðsson, Halldor Armann LU (2006) p.201-237
Abstract
This paper explores the idea that abstract Agree is a precondition on Merge and an integrated part of it. That is, an element F merges with the structure X only if the relation of Agree holds between the two (the Agree Condition on Merge). The relation of Agree holds between F and X iff X contains an active feature fx that matches F. Move is forced by an inactive intervener ?x between F and fx, which, if not crossed by fx, would block matching, F ↔ fx. It follows that Move and Merge are fundamentally different, Move tucking in, as a ‘rescuing operation’ in an already existing structure, whereas Merge adds information to structure, thereby expanding it.

Whenever Merge applies, the possibility of agreement arises, i.e. languages... (More)
This paper explores the idea that abstract Agree is a precondition on Merge and an integrated part of it. That is, an element F merges with the structure X only if the relation of Agree holds between the two (the Agree Condition on Merge). The relation of Agree holds between F and X iff X contains an active feature fx that matches F. Move is forced by an inactive intervener ?x between F and fx, which, if not crossed by fx, would block matching, F ↔ fx. It follows that Move and Merge are fundamentally different, Move tucking in, as a ‘rescuing operation’ in an already existing structure, whereas Merge adds information to structure, thereby expanding it.

Whenever Merge applies, the possibility of agreement arises, i.e. languages make parametric (PF) choices whether or not to signal each instance of Merge morphologically, that is, agreement is in effect a ‘sign of compositionality’. The various agreement phenomena of Icelandic illustrate that agreement involves feature copying processes that take place exclusively in PF. Thus, morphological agreement is quite distinct from (albeit preconditioned by) abstract syntactic Agree. In addition, the Icelandic facts discussed suggest that also ‘head movement’ is confined to PF.

If this is on the right track, PF is a multilayered and a highly complex system, producing strings that can be radically different from underlying syntactic structures. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
agreement, case, minimalsim, Icelandic, Agree
host publication
Agreement Systems
editor
Boeckx, Cedric
pages
201 - 237
publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
ISBN
90-272-3356-X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Swedish (015011001)
id
e7e16c57-2ba8-438a-81f1-da857a65eccb (old id 539377)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:25:53
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:04:47
@inbook{e7e16c57-2ba8-438a-81f1-da857a65eccb,
  abstract     = {{This paper explores the idea that abstract Agree is a precondition on Merge and an integrated part of it. That is, an element F merges with the structure X only if the relation of Agree holds between the two (the Agree Condition on Merge). The relation of Agree holds between F and X iff X contains an active feature fx that matches F. Move is forced by an inactive intervener ?x between F and fx, which, if not crossed by fx, would block matching, F ↔ fx. It follows that Move and Merge are fundamentally different, Move tucking in, as a ‘rescuing operation’ in an already existing structure, whereas Merge adds information to structure, thereby expanding it.<br/><br>
Whenever Merge applies, the possibility of agreement arises, i.e. languages make parametric (PF) choices whether or not to signal each instance of Merge morphologically, that is, agreement is in effect a ‘sign of compositionality’. The various agreement phenomena of Icelandic illustrate that agreement involves feature copying processes that take place exclusively in PF. Thus, morphological agreement is quite distinct from (albeit preconditioned by) abstract syntactic Agree. In addition, the Icelandic facts discussed suggest that also ‘head movement’ is confined to PF.<br/><br>
If this is on the right track, PF is a multilayered and a highly complex system, producing strings that can be radically different from underlying syntactic structures.}},
  author       = {{Sigurðsson, Halldor Armann}},
  booktitle    = {{Agreement Systems}},
  editor       = {{Boeckx, Cedric}},
  isbn         = {{90-272-3356-X}},
  keywords     = {{agreement; case; minimalsim; Icelandic; Agree}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{201--237}},
  publisher    = {{John Benjamins Publishing Company}},
  title        = {{Agree in syntax, agreement in signs}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5772124/625985.pdf}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}