8 Eliminating parameters from
the narrow syntax
Rule ordering variation by third-
factor underspecification∗
Miki Obata and Samuel Epstein
1 Parameters and language variation
The concept of parameters has been central to generative inquiry since the
inception of Chomsky’s (1981) principles and parameters approach. UG
comprises a finite set of principles, while parameters express variant forms of
(some of) those principles. Individual I-languages are acquired (grown) by
setting parameters/fixing their values, as is triggered by primary linguistic
data, i.e. externalized acoustic disturbances or retinal images of hand shapes
being input into a parameterized UG, thereby determining experience. This
approach enables us to capture a number of construction-specific and
language(s) – specific rules or rule systems – non-explanatorily postulated for
each individual language in pre-P&P theories. In this sense, with the P&P
approach, the theory of UG becomes more restricted, yet concomitantly
permitting (highly restricted) variation between I-languages, which can be
understood as an earlier step toward the seamless quest of “minimalism”,
meaning nothing other than a commitment to generalization and explanation-
seeking normal science.
While the P&P approach provided great advances in understanding the archi-
tecture of the language faculty, Cho msky’s (1995) minimalist approach further
propels the project forward. He attributes language variation to the lexicon,
which is learned through exposure to externalized Primary Linguistic Data
(PLD), so that the computational system/syntax is no longer equipped with
parameters but works universally, based on instructions provided by linguistic
features (selected from the lexicon) which can display (infinitely restricted)
variation between I-languages. This “minimalist” advance sought to eliminate
variation from the syntax, i.e. to capture what is human syntax, and accorded
with the standard seemingly unavoidable and enduring view that the lexicon
and morphology do indeed vary among I-languages.
With regard to the computational system, then, we assume that S 0 is con-
stituted of invariant principles with options restricted to functional elements
and general properties of the lexicon.
(Chom sky 1995)