Parallel Structures in Syntax

Book excerpt: This book proposes a radical revision in the definition of phrase markers, the fundamental object in the generative theory of syntax. Phrase markers have traditionally been defined in such a way that each node in the phrase marker must satisfy a relation of either dominance or precedence with every other node. Grant Goodall argues convincingly that the dominance and precedence requirement should be dropped. The argument is lucidly articulated and is supported by a comprehensive description and analysis of of coordination in English and of causative and restructuring constructions in the Romance languages. Parallel Structures in Syntax is a significant and thoughtful contribution to syntactic theory, and arguably provides the simplest and most elegant account available of many of the complex phenomena observed in coordination, causatives, and restructuring. It will interest not only theoretical linguists, but also computational linguists and cognitive scientists.