Construction of Maximal Projections: A Comparative Minimalist Study of Punjabi and English
Keywords:
Syntax, Minimalist Program,, Universal Grammar, Principles, and ParametersAbstract
Chomsky’s Theory of Universal Grammar incorporates some universal principles for
grammatical description of all possible human languages. As all the aspects of human languages
may not be universal, this theory also set some parameters along which languages may vary from
one another. Among other criteria of adequacy, it is a prerequisite for Universal Grammar that it
must provide minimal (as simple as possible) theoretical and descriptive apparatus for all human
I-languages. This criterion was fulfilled by introduction of minimalist program. Utilizing
minimalist apparatus for syntactic description, this research aimed to compare the construction
of maximal TP (Tense Phrase) projections in Punjabi and English. It applied three principles of
Universal Grammar i.e. Headedness Principle, Binarity Principle and Extended Projection
Principle (EPP) for minimalist description of selected clause structures of Punjabi and English
language. The analysis demonstrated that Punjabi is a head last language while English is a
head first language; Punjabi interrogative clauses cause no movement operation, but in English
questions, movement of wh- expression or auxiliaries take place. However, both the languages
follow Universal Grammar principles.
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