Dependency Structures Derived from Minimalist Grammars

Marisa Ferrara Boston, John T. Hale, Marco Kuhlmann

Abstract: This paper provides an interpretation of Minimalist Grammars [16],[17] in terms of dependency structures. Under this interpretation, merge operations derive projective dependency structures, and movement operations introduce both non-projectivity and illnestedness. This new characterization of the generative capacity of Minimalist Grammar makes it possible to discuss the linguistic relevance of non-projectivity and illnestedness. This in turn provides insight into grammars that derive structures with these properties.