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Reference.org
Principles and parameters
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<p>Principles and parameters is a framework within <a href="/facts/Generative_linguistics/Pm1AMX5U">generative linguistics</a> in which the <a href="/facts/Syntax/6PxSV98p">syntax</a> of a <a href="/facts/Natural_language/B4gLS7Kd">natural language</a> is described in accordance with general <i>principles</i> (i.e. abstract rules or <a href="/facts/Grammar/vprQsHIR">grammars</a>) and specific <i>parameters</i> (i.e. markers, switches) that for particular languages are either turned <i>on</i> or <i>off</i>. For example, the position of <a href="/facts/Head_(linguistics)/aBTxhyr9">heads</a> in phrases is determined by a parameter. Whether a language is <i><a href="/facts/Head_directionality/mAlsSSc6">head-initial or head-final</a></i> is regarded as a parameter which is either on or off for particular languages (i.e. <a href="/facts/English_language/tpkxGt7b">English</a> is <i>head-initial</i>, whereas <a href="/facts/Japanese_language/EEv485a5">Japanese</a> is <i>head-final</i>). Principles and parameters was largely formulated by the linguists <a href="/facts/Noam_Chomsky/3rtpzlER">Noam Chomsky</a> and <a href="/facts/Howard_Lasnik/BFP50tJ8">Howard Lasnik</a>. Many linguists have worked within this framework, and for a period of time it was considered the dominant form of mainstream generative linguistics. </p><p>Principles and parameters as a grammar framework is also known as <a href="/facts/Government_and_binding/2DTpSetS">government and binding</a> theory. That is, the two terms <i>principles and parameters</i> and <i>government and binding</i> refer to the same school in the generative tradition of <a href="/facts/Phrase_structure_grammar/SbzQXRFM">phrase structure grammars</a> (as opposed to <a href="/facts/Dependency_grammar/cWnwcCM0">dependency grammars</a>). However, Chomsky considers the term misleading. </p>