Optimality-theoretic Syntax (review)

This joint venture of conference proceedings and independently solicited papers makes for a highly successful volume on OT syntax from both a general-application and a theory-refinement perspective (analyzing syntactic issues in an OT framework and polishing it, respectively). The editors’ ‘Overview’ (xi–xviii) summarizes all papers contained in this volume, and Ch. 1 by Géraldine Legendre offers ‘An introduction to optimality theory in syntax’ (1–27),well written and presented, and not at all solely for the benefit of OT novices.

Let me briefly present this collection of articles in one possible set of thematic ordering. Looking at compounds, idioms, and verb-particle combinations in Dutch, Peter Ackema and Ad Neeleman discuss ‘Competition between syntax and morphology’ in Ch. 2 (29–60), favoring a syntactic expression of lexical items over a morphological one; the two constraints proposed in this chapter force strictly local evaluation of the candidate set. Ch. 4 by Eric Bakovic and Edward Keer deals with ‘Optimality and ineffability’ (97–112), and in particular poses questions that the latter (combined with optionality) throws up for the former. Their proposal revolves around cases in which a markedness constraint is ranked higher than a conflicting faithfulness constraint.

Chs. 3 and 12 deal with voice. Judith Aissen’s reprint of a recent NLLT article relates ‘Markedness and subject choice in optimality theory’ (61–96), focusing on the relationship between voice and person. Peter Sells is concerned more generally with ‘Form and function in the typology of grammatical voice systems’ (355–91). One welcome consequence of the arising typology is the prediction of implicational hierarchies among voice forms.

A number of papers deal with pronouns (Chs. 5, 8, 13, and 15). Joan Bresnan studies ‘The emergence of the unmarked pronoun’ (113–42), assuming a five-way split of pronominal elements (zero, bound, clitic, weak, free). Jane Grimshaw investigates ‘Optimal clitic positions and the lexicon in Romance clitic systems’ (205–40), predicting from alignment constraints the relative order of clitics in combination. Margaret Speas proposes ‘Constraints on null pronouns’ (393–425), making a further case for generalized Pro (as the null subject of finite and infinite clauses as well as null object across languages). Outside pronouns proper, Colin Wilson relates ‘Bidirectional optimization and the theory of anaphora’ (465–507), couching his proposal in research based on the notions of referential economy and relativized minimality.

The common theme relating Chs. 6 and 7 is scrambling. Hye-Won Choi associates ‘Binding and discourse prominence: Reconstruction in “focus” scrambling’ (143–69). Also incorporating the role of focus in his proposal, João Costa discusses ‘The emergence of unmarked word order’ (171–203). Ch. 11 by Vieri Samek-Lodovici investigates presentational focus constructions and ‘Crosslinguistic typologies in optimality theory’ (315–53). Ellen Woolford’s Ch. 16 investigates ‘Case patterns’ (509–44), successfully formulating an OT case theory along lines familiar to many.

Chs. 9, 10, and 14 deal with particular movement operations. Géraldine Legendre uncovers ‘Masked second-position effects and the linearization of functional features’ (241–77). Gereon Müller’s ‘Order preservation, parallel movement, and the emergence of the unmarked’ (279–313) considers a range of phenomena, such as wh-movement, pronominal syntax, and quantifier raising. Sten Vikner revisits ‘V⁰-to-I⁰ movement and do-insertion in optimality theory’ (427–64) with data from Danish, English, French, and Icelandic.

This is a highly stimulating collection of current research in OT and of obvious interest to all OT syntacticians. More important, however, the editors successfully assembled a volume that can and should be read by syntacticians of any theoretical persuasion. The consequences of the data discussed and conclusions reached in these papers certainly deserve widespread attention.