Cartographic Representations

Cartographic Representations: Syntactic Computations and Interface Properties investigates the intricate interactions between syntax and other components of the grammar, including semantics, pragmatics, morphology, and prosody. These interactions represent a central concern in current cartographic research, which emphasizes the fine-grained structural articulation of syntactic space. The book explores how such cartographic structures interface with systems of sound and meaning, contributing to broader discussions within the Minimalist Program on the nature of syntactic computation and interpretive mechanisms. The chapters in the volume collectively examine the interplay between empirical discoveries in syntactic cartography, the computational ingredients of syntactic derivations, and the properties of the external and internal interfaces. These studies reflect both theoretical depth and empirical breadth, offering new insights into how syntactic structure guides interpretive outcomes. The book is organized into four parts, corresponding to the major themes addressed across the chapters. Part I lays the theoretical foundation for the volume, focusing on the role of featural and structural richness in mapping syntax to interpretation at the interfaces; Part II centers on edge-related syntactic phenomena, while Part III addresses wh-constructions and their interface properties. The final part explores the notion of "meaningless movement" and its implications for the architecture of the grammar. Drawing on contributions from leading scholars in the field, this volume provides a coherent and up-to-date account of major developments in syntactic cartography. It will be of interest to researchers working on syntactic theory, interface phenomena, and the broader questions of how structure and interpretation interact in human language.

Fuzhen Si is Professor of Linguistics at Beijing Language and Culture University, where she directs the Institute for Chomsky Studies and the Biolinguistics and Brain Science Laboratory. She was previously a postdoctoral visiting scholar at MIT and has also held guest professorial positions at the University of Vienna, the Macau University of Science and Technology, and the Yili Normal University. Her research interests include cartographic syntax, biolinguistics, and Chomskyan studies. Luigi Rizzi is Honorary Professor at the Collège de France and at the University of Geneva, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Siena. He previously held positions at MIT, UMass Amherst, UCLA, and the Ecole Normale Supérieure. He is a member of the British Academy, the Academia Europaea, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences (USA). His research focuses on theoretical and comparative syntax: the parametric approach, the theory of locality, cartography, and the acquisition of syntax.