关键词: 二元合并, 一元分裂, 加标, 初始合并, 递归性

Abstract: Chomsky’s binary merge syntax well explains the recursion and hierarchy of human language in a minimalist spirit. Nevertheless, it still contains such theoretical attachments as phase, label, agree and feature checking to motivate and maintain the syntactic derivation. Meanwhile, different specifc merging modes and restrictive conditions have to be hypothesized to ensure the diversity and legitimacy of the generated structure. By contrast, the unary split syntax proposed by Zwart (2009) eliminates the concepts of copy, movement, phase, label, agree and transfer, but equally accounts for the recursive, local and endocentric properties of language structure. Without assuming different merge modes and interface conditions, the unary split syntax not only simplifies the components of syntactic computation, but also explains the distinction between compound words and phrases, the properties of tough-constructions, and solves primary merge problem challenging the binary merge syntax. With these merits, the unary split syntax suggests a promising alternative to explore minimalism.