The Global Non-determinism and the Theory of Interpretive Effects

This paper proposes a new theory of merge within the global non-determinism (Yang 2011b) in terms of the theory of interpretive effects. The major claims are as follows. First, the notion of derivational null hypothesis is proposed in place of the notion of edge feature (EF) (Chomsky 2008). Various problems with the notion of EF within Chomsky’s (2008) own theory are pointed out. It is shown that the theory of minimalism is significantly improved by adopting the derivational null hypothesis in place of the notion of EF. At the same time, adopting the derivational null hypothesis is shown to make significant theoretical progress in grammatical theory. Second, the notion of EPP is shown to be replaced by the notion of ‘null effect’ within the global non-determinism. The notion of EPP has been treated as a residual element in the theory of minimalism. It will be shown that the notion of ‘null effect’ is motivated as a formal element within the theory of non-determinism. Third, the notion of obligatory movement should be systematically re-defined as the ‘marked merge’ within the non-determinism, so that the notion of obligatory movement can be eliminated from the grammatical theory. Accordingly, the notion of optional movement should be systematically re-defined as the ‘unmarked merge’ within the non-determinism.