Tags:	[Arguments-vs-adjuncts]

Towards a Minimalist Analysis of the Argument-Adjunct Asymmetries in English

Smiecinska 2001

Smiecinska tries to account for some of the asymmetries between adjuncts and arguments by redefining the minimal link condition (MLC) such that: Merge is selected over Move; no legitimate operation can take place when there is competition between two cases of Merge; and for Move, a closer element wins over the more distant one. In particular, she defines the MLC as:

With Attract as the driving force for Merge and Move,

• Move can target K only if there is no legitimate operation

  Move targeting K, where is closer to K.

• Move can target K only if there is no legitimate operation

  Merge targeting K

• Merge can target K only if there is no legitimate operation

  Merge targeting K.

She also assumes that wh-features are eliminated once they are checked.