Theoretical analysis of syntax and semantics implications on Merge operation in language systems, suggesting a need for autonomy.
Chomsky (2021, 2024) proposes Duality of Semantics as a principle governing the syntactic operation of Merge. This principle, however, is problematic in view of the autonomy of syntax, because it crucially refers to theta-theoretic properties, which are notions related to semantic interpretation. We will argue that the syntactic operation of Merge should not be constrained by a principle that refers to thematic/semantic notions/concepts, and the actual application of Merge interacts with, and is constrained by, extra-syntactic factors related to semantic interpretation and language production.
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Hiroshi HASEGAWA (2026) studied this question.
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