Showing papers on "Antisymmetry published in 1997"

Adverb Placement: A case study in antisymmetric syntax

Abstract: This monograph investigates a number of central issues in the Syntax of Adverbs with special reference to Greek in the light of Kayne's (1994) Antisymmetry Hypothesis. It examines the conditions on the placement of the various adverb types, their licensing requirements, and their relation to adjectives. The author advances an analysis according to which adverbs are licensed as Specifiers of functional projections in the clausal domain. As such, they enter a matching relation with the relevant features of the respective functional head. Adverbs are either directly merged at the relevant functional projection (for instance Aspectual and Speaker Oriented adverbs) or alternatively they are moved to this position from the complement domain of the verb (for instance manner adverbs). Furthermore, the volume examines the phenomenon of Adverb Incorporation. It is proposed that Incorporation is obligatory for those VP internal Adverbs which are 'structuraly non-complex' in Chomsky's 1995 terms. Finally, the similarities and differences between adverbs and adjectives, clausal and nominal structure are investigated and a number of asymmetries between the two are highlighted.

Principles and Parameters: An Introduction to Syntactic Theory

Abstract: Principles and Parameters is a new textbook intended for the advanced undergraduate or postgraduate student of linguistics. In this readable and authoritative survey of the theory, incorporating much of Government and Binding (GB) theory, Peter Culicover summarizes the major proposals and results of Case theory, Theta theory, X'-theory, Binding theory, the theory of A- and A'- movement, locality conditions, and the theory of Logical Form (LF). He provides an up-to-date introduction to a number of more recent proposals, including Chomsky's Minimalist Program, Larsonian shells, and Kayne's Antisymmetry theory. A major concern and organizing principle of the book is to give the student an understanding of how specific methodological assumptions underlie the core analyses that have played a central role in the development of the theory. Each chapter is followed by an extensive set of exercises which lead the student from the point of applying the mechanics of the theory to developing and organizing new data, providing analyses, and exploring alternative hypotheses. There are also graded and annotated guides to further reading for each chapter, and, as a general aid to the student, a comprehensive glossary of terms. This book is intended for courses: Advanced Syntax; Government and Binding Theory; Principles and Parameters Theory Level: Final year undergraduate; postgraduate, supplementary for some second year undergraduate courses.

Size-dependent asymmetry: fluctuating asymmetry versus antisymmetry and its relevance to condition-dependent signaling.

Abstract: Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) has received much recent attention in studies of the evolution of sexual signaling systems. Tests apparently showing that symmetry decreases as individual condition decreases have bolstered the view that FA plays a significant role in the evolution of sexual signals. However, a closer inspection of several examples of bilateral variation as a function of trait size (a correlate of condition) suggests a different pattern of variation. Rather than FA, these traits suggest a pattern of size-dependent antisymmetry (a bimodal frequency distribution of R - L). We introduce some quantitative methods to test for condition- or size-dependent FA. Our analyses reject pure FA for four of the five published datasets involving signals (the fifth is equivocal), but confirm the presence of size-dependent FA in one nonsignaling trait. In the studies not conforming to FA, the data appear to fit more closely a pattern of antisymmetry in individuals with smaller signaling traits. Our results thus suggest that current discussions and conclusions about the role of FA in the evolution of signaling systems should be reconsidered. More specifically, we note that condition-dependent antisymmetry offers a more reliable indicator than condition-dependent FA. We caution, however, that additional work will be needed to determine whether the pattern is general and not an artifact. Our method of analysis could usefully be applied to studies of other continuous factors expected to be correlated with asymmetries, including heterozygosity, inbreeding, and environmental stress. Finally, we suggest that antisymmetry may have commonly been mistaken for FA in a variety of cases dealing with a variety of problems.

"Dynamic Antisymmetry: movement as a symmetry-breaking phenomenon"

Abstract: Movement is a specific property of human languages and one that has at least implicitly been recognized in all linguistic theories. The most recent development posits that movement is forced by morphological requirements (Chomsky 1995). In this paper I will suggest a different approach to movement, suggesting that it is essentially related to the geometry of phrase structure. A weak version of Kayne's 1994 theory of the antisymmetry of syntax, namely 'dynamic antisymmetry' will be introduced. In the strong version, UG only allowed for antisymmetrical configurations, in terms of c-command. Within dynamic antisymmetry, however, symmetrical configurations can be generated, provided that movement makes them antisymmetric before spell-out. In other words, I will suggest that movement is a symmetry-breaking phenomenon, i.e. it is triggered by purely geometrical factors as opposed to morphological ones. Data will range from small clause constructions (both in copular sentences and believe-type verbs) to wh-movement in interrogatives. Italian and English will be the major sources of examples.

Quantum Constraints in π Systems: The Role of the Pauli Antisymmetry Principle for π Electronic Properties

Abstract: Abstract It is demonstrated that the Pauli antisymmetry principle (PAP) is without influence in the π electron subspace of polyenes and (4n + 2) annulenes (n = 0, 1, 2...) as long as the hoppings are restricted to nearest-neighbour centers. Here the π electrons behave like a hard core bosonic (hcb) ensemble where fermionic on-site and bosonic intersite properties are combined. In 4n and (2n + 1) annulenes (n = 1,2, 3...) π electron jumps between the first and last ring atom lead to a Pauli antisymmetry-based destabilization. The second quantum constraint in fermionic systems is the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP). In the many-electron basis adopted in the present work it is possible to treat the PAP and PEP as two decoupled constraints. The electronic destabilization due to the PEP is enhanced with increasing size of the system. The influence of the PAP and PEP on the π electrons is discussed in terms of π energies and charge fluctuations. The model Hamiltonians adopted are of the Hückel molecular orbital (HMO) and Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) type. We suggest quantum statistical definitions of the quantities \"aromaticity\" and \"antiaromaticity\", qualitative descriptors which are widely employed in the chemical literature.

First-principles theory of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic order (abstract)

Abstract: We outline a theory that aims at a consistent description of spin order on a first-principles basis. The theory merely exploits the antisymmetry of the N-electron wave function and its property of solving the associated N-electron Schrodinger equation. As follows directly from the antisymmetry of the wave function, the exchange-correlation energy is generally lowered if one subjects the system to a departure from paramagnetic order. Moreover, it becomes evident that a consistent nonrelativistic N-electron theory can only yield collinear magnetism. We exploit the proven method of mapping the original N-electron Schrodinger equation onto N equivalent one-particle equations familiar from density functional theory. The occurrence of spin order is shown to be connected to Hund’s rule. One obtains closely resembling criteria for antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic instability, the latter being identical to Stoner’s criterion. By using this criterion we have studied the 3d- and 4d-metals and also two rare-earth ...