Projection principle
in generative grammar, the principle that representations at each syntax level (MF, D, S) are “projected” from the lexicon (follow the subcategorization of lexemes)
In linguistics, the projection principle is a stipulation proposed by Noam Chomsky as part of the phrase structure component of generative-transformational grammar. The projection principle is used in the derivation of phrases under the auspices of the principles and parameters theory.
Details
Under the projection principle, the properties of lexical items must be preserved while generating the phrase structure of a sentence. The principle, as formulated by Chomsky in Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin and Use (1986), states that "lexical structure must be represented categorically at every syntactic level" (Chomsky 1986: 84). Chomsky further defined the projection principle as "representations at each level of syntax(MF, D, S) are projected from the lexicon in that they observe the subcategorisation properties of lexical items."
This refers to the fact that every individual piece of a syntactic structure is part of a particular category (i.e. “John” is a member of the category Noun and “run” is a member of the category Verb). The Projection Principle requires reference to these categories surfaces at every level of a syntactic phrase structure. This requires a knowledge of arguments and internal structures. “John” may be a noun, but nouns are always dominated by a determiner phrase (DP). The verb “run” does not select for the noun “John”, but rather it selects for the DP “John”.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Projection principle” is in generative grammar, the principle that representations at each syntax level (MF, D, S) are “projected” from the lexicon (follow the subcategorization of lexemes). The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Projection, principle and generative, not as a finished interpretation.
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