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The Mernyang Verb Phrase
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1.8 BRIEF REVIEW OF THE CHOSEN FRAME WORK
Like
I have earlier mentioned, the theoretical framework adopted in the
analysis of data in this research work is Government and Binding theory.
This
theory which operates through the modules of grammar, x-bar, case,
control, binding, bounding, government and movement theories was
propounded by Chomsky in (1981).
Haegeman (1994:3) defined Government
and Binding theory as a theory of universal grammar, which is the
system of all principles that are common to all human languages. GB
theory is a radical revision of Chomsky’s earlier theory in (1981) and
was later revised in the minimalist programme of (1993).
Government
and binding theory is a theory of syntax in the tradition of
transformational grammar, and it is a more advanced theory of universal
grammar. GB theory greatly eliminates proliferation of transformational
rules like, affix hopping, passivization, question formation, equi-NP
deletion, verb number, insertion, agreement etc.
In the current Government and Binding framework, distinction is made between the two types of categories we have;
i. Lexical category
ii. Functional category
Lexical
category in any human language includes, noun, verb, adjective and
preposition, while functional categories includes elements like;
complementizer, tense, inflectional, determiner focus, agreement etc.
Syntactically,
while the lexical categories projects up to a single bar level and
terminate there, thus making endless reason possible with the aid of
elements like complements and modifiers, the functional categories
project up to the specifier of XP level thus sealing off the projection.
A specifier is an element that closes off a category projection.
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