Move! A Minimalist Theory of Construal by Norbert Hornstein

by Norbert Hornstein

Move! A Minimalist Theory of Construal provides an accessible, in-depth, and empirically oriented look at Chomsky's Minimalist Program. This volume facilitates understanding of the concepts of the Minimalist Program framework and presents a theory which eliminates construal processes from Universal Grammar. In its place, this book generalizes movement to promote a rather homogeneous-looking Universal Grammar, bereft of many of the modules characteristic of GB-inspired proposals for the structure of Universal Grammar. Move! articulates a far greater empirical range than any other single work in the Minimalist Program. It successfully explains the concepts of the framework, unifies many phenomena in new ways, and enables readers to understand several long-standing puzzles.

Paperback Bunko

First published December 19, 2000

Reviews

[Othman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not crazy about Hornstein's work. It's mostly about control constructions, which you can see in various places in this book. What I like most about this book is the first chapter. He gives a brief history of generative syntax and how it developed throughout the years. Questions that the first chapter can answer include:
- what's the difference between GB and MP?
- why were DS and SS eliminated from the grammar?
- what is the motivation for positing PF and LF?
- how does economy operate in evaluating the different models of the grammar?
- how does economy operate in evaluating transformations within a certain model?

I enjoyed reading the first chapter, and I'd recommend it to anyone interesting in generative syntax.