On UG and Materialization
Halldor Armann Sigurdsson
December 2011 

This paper develops a few simple but central ideas: 1)The Universal Lexicon (the 'lexical' part of UG) contains two elements: an initial root, Root Zero, and an initial functional feature, Feature Zero, identified as the Edge Feature, EF ('zero' as they are void of content, empty 'cells/atoms', as it were). 2) UG = a Minimal Language Generator, containing a) Merge, b) Root Zero, and c) Feature Zero. 3)The Generalized Edge Approach: Both External and Internal Merge are preconditioned by Feature Zero, the Edge Feature . 4)The Copy Theory of Language Growth: The growth of internal language in the individual involves reiterated (formal) Copy & Merge of Root Zero and Feature Zero. – Recursion boils down to Edge Feature (Feature Zero) Iteration.

Format:	[ pdf ]
Reference:	lingbuzz/001114 (please use that when you cite this article, unless you want to cite the full url: http://ling.auf.net/lingbuzz/001114)
Published in:	Linguistic Analysis 37:367-388, see www.linguisticanalysis.com
keywords:	materialization, gerenalized edge approach, the universal lexicon, the copy theory of language growth, root zero, feature zero, edge feature, syntax
previous versions:	v6 [December 2011] v5 [August 2011] v4 [June 2011] v3 [April 2011] v2 [October 2010] v1 [October 2010]
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