| ROA: | 434 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Economy of Structure in OT |
| Authors: | Jane Grimshaw |
| Comment: | |
| Length: | 37 |
| Abstract: | This paper argues that economy of structure follows from the theory of phrase structure, understood as a set of conflicting constraints governing the nature of phrases. Between them, alignment constraints (which predict the order of phrasal constituents) and obligatory element constraints (which require the presence of heads and specifiers) guarantee that simpler structures are preferred over more complex structures. This result holds for all rankings of the constraints, hence it holds universally. It is a result that can be derived within the assumptions of OT, but not in theories with only inviolable principles. |
| Type: | Paper/tech report |
| Area/Keywords: | Syntax |
| Article: | Version 1 |