Minimalist Machine Derivations

Minimalist Machine Derivations

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Examples:

Derivation by Phase (Chomsky 2001): collapse

Example	Stream of heads (click + ⇇Send)	Notes
(4)(ii)(a) There are likely to be several prizes awarded cf. There are likely to be awarded several prizes	[prizes, several, award, prt, 'v~', there, 'Tinf', likely, v_be, 'T', c]	One derivation. Expletive passive with raising verb. Leftwards TH/EX. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several prizes. Prizes values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~. Several prizes values ɸ on Tinf. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Matrix T values nom Case for prt and several prizes. Several prizes values ɸ on matrix T. Expletive there raises to edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. Tinf spells out as to. Copula v_be spells out as are in the presence of T[ɸ:PL]. Verb award with affix prt spells out as past particples awarded.
(4)(ii)(b) Several prizes are likely to be awarded	[prizes, several, award, prt, 'v~', 'Tinf', likely, v_be, 'T', c]	One derivation. Several prizes raises to matrix subject. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several prizes. Prizes values ɸ for prt. Several prizes values ɸ on Tinf and raises to the edge of Tinf. Matrix T values nom Case for prt and several prizes. Several prizes values ɸ on matrix T and raises to the edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. Tinf spells out as to. Copula v_be spells out as are in the presence of T[ɸ:PL]. Verb award with affix prt spells out as past particples awarded.
(4)(iii)(a) We expect there to be several prizes awarded We expect there to be awarded several prizes	[prizes, several, award, prt, 'v~', there, 'Tinf', expect, 'v*', [we, d], 'T', c]	One derivation. Expletive passive with exceptional Case Marking (ECM) transitive verb. Leftwards TH/EX. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several prizes. Prizes values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~. Several prizes values ɸ on Tinf. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Accusative Case on several prizes valued by ECM probe v. Several prizes* values ɸ on v. T values Nominative Case on subject we. We values ɸ on T and raises to edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. Tinf spells out as to. Verb award* with affix prt spells out as past particples awarded.
(4)(iii) (b) We expect several prizes to be awarded	[prizes, several, award, prt, 'v~', 'Tinf', expect, 'v*', [we, d], 'T', c]	One derivation. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several prizes. Prizes values ɸ for prt. Several prizes values ɸ on Tinf and raises to edge of Tinf. Accusative Case on several prizes valued by ECM probe v. Several prizes* values ɸ on v. Matrix T values Nominative Case on subject we. We values ɸ on T and raises to edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. Tinf spells out as to. Verb award* with affix prt spells out as past particples awarded.
(15)(ii) There is likely to arrive a man	[man, a, arrive, 'v~unacc', there, 'Tinf', likely, 'v_be', 'T', c]	One derivation. Raising verb with unaccusative. Expletive there merged inside v~. A man values ɸ on Tinf. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Matrix T values Nominative Case on a man. A man values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix T. EXT: v~unacc does not spell out. Tinf spells out as to. Copula v_be spells out as is in the presence of T[ɸ:3SG].
(16)(ii) We expect there to arrive a man	[man, a, arrive, 'v~unacc', there, 'Tinf', expect, 'v*', [we, d], 'T', c]	One derivation. ECM transitive verb with unaccusative. Expletive there merged inside v~. A man values ɸ on Tinf. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Accusative Case on a man valued by ECM probe v. A man* values ɸ on v*. Matrix T values Nominative Case on subject we. We values ɸ on T and raises to edge of T. EXT: v~unacc does not spell out. Tinf spells out as to.
(18)(a) There seem to have been several fish caught cf. There seem to have been caught several fish	[fish, several, catch, prt, 'v~', there, perf, v, 'Tinf', seem, v_nop, 'T', c]	One derivation. Raising verb with participial passive. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several fish. (Several) fish values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~. Several fish values ɸ on Tinf. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Matrix T values Nominative Case on several fish. Several fish values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. perf spells out as have. Tinf spells out as to. Verb catch with affix prt spells out as past particples caught.
(18)(b) We expect there to have been several fish caught cf. We expect there to have been caught several fish	[fish, several, catch, prt, 'v~', there, perf, v, 'Tinf', expect, 'v*', [we, d], 'T', c]	One derivation. ECM transitive verb with participial passive. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several fish. (Several) fish values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~. Several fish values ɸ on Tinf. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Accusative Case on several fish valued by ECM probe v. Several fish* values ɸ on v. Matrix T values Nominative Case on subject we. We values ɸ on T and raises to edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. perf spells out as have. Tinf spells out as to. Verb catch* with affix prt spells out as past particples caught.
(20)(b)(i) There were several fish believed to have been caught cf. There were believed to have been several fish caught cf. There were believed to have been caught several fish	[fish, several, catch, prt, 'v~', perf, v, 'Tinf', believe, prt, 'v~', there, 'Tpast', c]	One derivation. Passivized ECM verb with participial passive. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several fish. (Several) fish values ɸ for prt. Several fish values ɸ on Tinf and raises to edge of Tinf. Unvalued Case shared betwee matrix prt and several fish. (Several) fish values ɸ for matrix prt. Expletive there merged inside matrix v~. Matrix T values Nominative Case on several fish. Several fish values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. perf spells out as have. Tinf spells out as to. Verbs believe and catch with affix prt spell out as past particples believed and caught, respectively.
(20)(b)(ii) We expected there to have been several fish believed to have been caught cf. We expected there to have been believed to have been several fish caught cf. We expected there to have been believed to have been caught several fish	[fish, several, catch, prt, 'v~', perf, v, 'Tinf', believe, prt, 'v~', there, perf, v, 'Tinf', expect, 'v*', [we, d], 'Tpast', c]	One derivation. ECM transitive verb with embedded passivized ECM verb with embedded participial passive. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several fish. (Several) fish values ɸ for prt. Several fish values ɸ on Tinf and raises to edge of Tinf. Unvalued Case shared betwee prt associated with believe and several fish. (Several) fish values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~ associated with believe. Several fish values ɸ on Tinf associated with believe. Expletive there raises to edge of Tinf. Accusative Case on several fish valued by matrix ECM probe v. Several fish* values ɸ on v. Matrix T values Nominative Case on several fish. Several fish* values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. perf spells out as have. Tinf spells out as to. Verbs believe and catch with affix prt spell out as past particples believed and caught, respectively.
(21)(b) There is expected to arrive a man (21)(c) *A man is expected there to arrive	[man, a, arrive, 'v~unacc', 'Tinf', expect, prt, 'v~', there, 'T', c]	One derivation. Passive counterpart of (16)(ii). Passivized ECM verb with unaccusative. Converges as: There is a man expected to arrive. A man values ɸ on Tinf and raises to edge of Tinf. Unvalued Case shared between prt and a man. Man values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside matrix v~ associated with believe. Matrix T values Nominative Case on a man. A man values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix T. EXT: v~ in the presence of T[ɸ:3SG] spells out as is. v~unacc is not spelled out. Tinf spells out as to. Verb expect with affix prt spells out as past participle expected.
(22)(c) *There was placed a large book on the table There was a large book placed on the table	[table, the, on_2, [book, large, a], place, prt, 'v~', there, 'Tpast', c]	One derivation. Leftwards TH/EX, converges as There was a large book placed on the table. Preposition on here is dyadic on₂, cf. monadic on₁ as in a book on syntax. Form VP {place {a large book ,{on₂, the table}}}. on₂ values Oblique Case on its complement the table. Unvalued Case shared between prt and a large book. Book values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~ . Matrix Tpast values Nominative Case on a large book. A man values ɸ on Tpast. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix Tpast. EXT: on₂ spells out as on. v~ in the presence of Tpast:[ɸ:SG] spells out as was. Verb place with affix prt spells out as past participle placed.
(22)(e) *How many packages were there placed on the table?	[table, the, on_2, [packages, many, how], place, prt, 'v~', there, 'Tpast', c_Q]	One derivation. Derivation converges as How many packages were there placed on the table ? Preposition on here is dyadic on₂, cf. monadic on₁ as in a book on syntax. Form VP {place {how many packages ,{on₂, the table}}}. on₂ values Oblique Case on its complement the table. Unvalued Case shared between prt and how many packages. Packages values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~ . Matrix Tpast values Nominative Case on how many packages. How many packages values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix Tpast. Interrogative C_Q attracts how many packages to its edge. Implementation detail: C_Q values Scope on how many packages. How many packages values Wh on C_Q. T on C_Q can be valued by raising T, following (Pesetsky & Torrego, 2001). EXT implementation detail: we stipulate that raising Tpast to C_Q is accompanied by raising of v~ as well. This pair spells out as Tpast[ɸ :PL] + be = were at the edge of C_Q. EXT: on₂ spells out as on. Verb place with affix prt spells out as past participle placed.
(24)(a) There were several packages placed on the table cf. There were placed several packages on the table cf. (24)(b) There were placed on the table several packages	[table, the, on_2, [packages, several], place, prt, 'v~', there, 'Tpast', c]	One derivation. Leftwards TH/EX, converges as there were several packages placed on the table. (24)(b) is rightwards TH/EX (not handled here). Preposition on here is dyadic on₂, cf. monadic on₁ as in a book on syntax. Form VP {place {several packages ,{on₂, the table}}}. on₂ values Oblique Case on its complement the table. Unvalued Case shared between prt and several packages. Packages values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~ . Matrix Tpast values Nominative Case on several packages. Several packages values ɸ on Tpast. Expletive there raises to edge of matrix Tpast. EXT: on₂ spells out as on. v~ in the presence of Tpast:[ɸ:PL] spells out as were. Verb place with affix prt spells out as past participle placed.
(31)(a) What are they selling books about?	[what:n, q, about, books, d, sell, 'v*', [they, d], prog, 'v~', 'T', c_Q]	One derivation. No leftwards TH/EX. Assume DP what is {q, what}. Asume also that we don't pair-merge about what as an adjunct to book (otherwise, extraction is impossible as adjunct positions are not visible to Merge). Accusative Case on books about what valued by probe v. Books* values ɸ on v. T values Nominative Case on subject they. They* values ɸ on T and raises to its edge. Interrogative C_Q attracts DP what to its edge. Implementation detail: C_Q values Scope on what. What values Wh on C_Q. T on C_Q can be valued by raising subject they or by raising T, following (Pesetsky & Torrego, 2001). Assume both what and they in the edge of C_Q is illegible at the C-I interface. EXT implementation detail: we stipulate that raising T to C_Q is accompanied by raising of v~ as well. This pair spells out as T[ɸ :PL] + be = are at the edge of C_Q. EXT: prog spells out as the affix -ing.
(31)(b) *What are there books about being sold?	[what:n, q, about, books, d, sell, prt, 'v~', prog, 'v~', there, 'T', c_Q]	One derivation. Wh-movement from extracted nominal (EN) in passive construction. No leftwards TH/EX according to Chomsky. Derivation converges with books about raised to progressive be. Assume DP what is {q, what}. Asume also that we don't pair-merge about what as an adjunct to book (otherwise, extraction is impossible as adjunct positions are not visible to Merge). Unvalued Case shared between prt and books about what. Books values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~ . T values Nominative Case on books about what. Books values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to the edge of T. Interrogative C_Q attracts DP what to its edge. Implementation detail: C_Q values Scope on what. What values Wh on C_Q. T on C_Q can be valued by raising T, following (Pesetsky & Torrego, 2001). Implemenation detail: we assume there cannot value T on C. EXT implementation detail: we stipulate that raising T to C_Q is accompanied by raising of v~ as well. This pair spells out as T[ɸ :PL] + be = are at the edge of C_Q. EXT: prog spells out as the affix -ing. Verb sell with affix prt spells out as past participle sold.
(38)(a) There are expected to be caught many fish (38)(b) There are expected to be many fish caught (38)(c) There are many fish expected to be caught	[fish, many, catch, prt, 'v~', 'Tinf', expect, prt, 'v~', there, 'T', c]	One derivation. Converges as (38)(c) There are many fish expected to be caught. Note: in in DbyP, many fish expected to be caught in (38)(c) is analyzed as a reduced relative construction, and the complete sentence as existential there are DP. Unvalued Case shared between prt and many fish. (Many) fish values ɸ for prt. Many fish values ɸ on Tinf and raises to edge of Tinf. Unvalued Case shared between prt associated with expect and many fish. (Many) fish values ɸ for prt. Expletive there merged inside v~ . T values Nominative Case on many fish. (Many) fish values ɸ on T. Expletive there raises to the edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. Tinf spells out as to. T[ɸ :PL] + be = are. Verbs expect and catch with affix prt spell out as past particples expected and caught, respectively.
(38)(d) Many fish are expected to be caught	[fish, many, catch, prt, 'v~', 'Tinf', expect, prt, 'v~', 'T', c]	One derivation. Unvalued Case shared between prt and many fish. (Many) fish values ɸ for prt. Many fish values ɸ on Tinf and raises to edge of Tinf. Unvalued Case shared between prt associated with expect and many fish. (Many) fish values ɸ for prt. T values Nominative Case on many fish. (Many) fish values ɸ on T and raises to the edge of T. EXT: v~ spells out as be. Tinf spells out as to. T[ɸ :PL] + be = are. Verbs expect and catch with affix prt spell out as past particples expected and caught, respectively.

Machine Parameters: expand

Animation:
(18)(a) There seem to have been several fish caught
cf. There seem to have been caught several fish

Derivation:
(18)(a) There seem to have been several fish caught
cf. There seem to have been caught several fish

Stream:	[[fish!D],[several!case!N],[catch],[prt!phi!case],[v~],[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):
SO:	[]

Step 1.

Head of stream [fish!D] is the initial SO

Stream:	[[several!case!N],[catch],[prt!phi!case],[v~],[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):
SO:	[fish!D]

Step 2.

Merge [several!case!N] and [fish!D]

Label from [several!case!N] (syntactic head with an unvalued uF)

Inherit interpretable feature(s) [f(phi,[3,_6404,n])] from [fish!D]

[several!case!N] values D on [fish!D]

[fish] values N on [several!case!N]

Stream:	[[catch],[prt!phi!case],[v~],[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):
SO:	[several!case[several][fish]]

Step 3.

Merge [catch] and [several!case[several][fish]]

Label from [catch] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Theta-mark [several!case[several][fish]]

Push [several!case[several][fish]] (unvalued uF) onto stack

Stream:	[[prt!phi!case],[v~],[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[catch[catch][several!case[several][fish]]]

Step 4.

Merge [prt!phi!case] and [catch[catch][several!case[several..][fish..]]]

Label from [prt!phi!case] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

[several!case[several][fish]] values uPhi on [prt!phi!case]

Unified case feature on [prt!case] and [several!case[several][fish]]

Stream:	[[v~],[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[prt[prt][catch[catch][several!case[several][fish]]]]

Step 5.

Internal merge selected

Merge [prt[prt][catch[catch..][several..]]] and [several!case[several][fish]]

Label from [prt[prt][catch[catch..][several..]]] (edge feature)

Stream:	[[v~],[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]

Step 6.

Merge [v~] and [prt[several!case[several..][fish..]][prt[prt..][catch..]]]

Label from [v~] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

[v~] checks theta on [several!case[several][fish]]

Stream:	[[there!phi],[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]

Step 7.

Merge [v~[v~][prt[several..][prt..]]] and [there!phi]

Label from [v~[v~][prt[several..][prt..]]] (edge feature)

Push [there!phi] (unvalued uF) onto stack

Stream:	[[perf],[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there!phi] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[v~[there!phi][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]

Step 8.

Merge [perf] and [v~[there!phi][v~[v~..][prt..]]]

Label from [perf] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Stream:	[[v],[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there!phi] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[perf[perf][v~[there!phi][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]

Step 9.

Merge [v] and [perf[perf][v~[there..][v~..]]]

Label from [v] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Stream:	[[Tinf!phi],[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there!phi] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[v[v][perf[perf][v~[there!phi][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]

Step 10.

Merge [Tinf!phi] and [v[v][perf[perf..][v~..]]]

Label from [Tinf!phi] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Unified phi feature on [Tinf!phi] and [there]

[several!case[several][fish]] values uPhi on [Tinf!phi]

Stream:	[[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]

Step 11.

Internal merge selected

Merge [Tinf[Tinf][v[v..][perf..]]] and [there]

Label from [Tinf[Tinf][v[v..][perf..]]] (edge feature)

Stream:	[[seem],[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]

Step 12.

Merge [seem] and [Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf..][v..]]]

Label from [seem] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Stream:	[[v_nop],[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[seem[seem][Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]]

Step 13.

Merge [v_nop] and [seem[seem][Tinf[there..][Tinf..]]]

Label from [v_nop] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Stream:	[[T!phi],[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several!case[several][fish]]
SO:	[v_nop[v_nop][seem[seem][Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several!case[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Step 14.

Merge [T!phi] and [v_nop[v_nop][seem[seem..][Tinf..]]]

Label from [T!phi] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Unified phi feature on [T!phi] and [there]

[several!case[several][fish]] values uPhi on [T!phi]

[T] values nom case on [several!case[several][fish]]

Stream:	[[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several[several][fish]]
SO:	[T[T][v_nop[v_nop][seem[seem][Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Step 15.

Internal merge selected

Merge [T[T][v_nop[v_nop..][seem..]]] and [there]

Label from [T[T][v_nop[v_nop..][seem..]]] (edge feature)

Stream:	[[c]]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several[several][fish]]
SO:	[T[there][T[T][v_nop[v_nop][seem[seem][Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Step 16.

Merge [c] and [T[there][T[T..][v_nop..]]]

Label from [c] (syntactic head merging with a non-head)

Stream:	[]
Stack (⥥):	[there] [several[several][fish]]
SO:	[c[c][T[there][T[T][v_nop[v_nop][seem[seem][Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Step 17.

Local Extent boundary at [c[c][T[there..][T..]]]

New boundary (b) marker stacked

Stream:	[]
Stack (⥥):	b [there] [several[several][fish]]
SO:	[c[c][T[there][T[T][v_nop[v_nop][seem[seem][Tinf[there][Tinf[Tinf][v[v][perf[perf][v~[there][v~[v~][prt[several[several][fish]][prt[prt][catch[catch][several[several][fish]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Parse:

Spell-out:

there -re seem to have -en be several fish -en catch (after morpheme realization)

there seem -re to have be -en several fish catch -en (after affix-hop)

there seem -re to have be -en several fish catch -en (after morpheme realization, stage 2)

there seem to have been several fish caught

One derivation found.

Computational Cost:

Merge: 15, Agree: 7, Unify: 3, Push: 2, Boundaries: 1, Inject: 0

Non-TOS access: 0, Pop: 0, Depth cost: 12

Step:	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Stack depth:	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3