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1 results

  • 7 - Labels

  • Norbert Hornstein, University of Maryland, Baltimore
  • Book:
    The Merge Hypothesis
    Published online:
    15 February 2024
    Print publication:
    22 February 2024, pp 184-206

  • Summary

    This chapter argues that labeling is the key linguistically bespoke operation. I trace the recursive property of Gs to the fact that they employ labels. The chapter argues that labels are the device for taking an expression in the range of Merge and putting it into the domain of Merge. Thus labels close Merge in the domain of the lexical atoms. So closing the operation effectively delivers a recursive system of unbounded hierarchy. The chapter also critically reviews some arguments for the simplicity of Merge based on the role it is intended to play in explaining the evolution of language. I dispute this and argue that what needs explanation is something quite different: What is the source of the power to form inductive definitions? Recursion is a consequence of closure afforded by labels.