ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that minimalism, a generative, derivational theory, and the concomitant departure from the Government and Binding (GB) filter-based approach, reflects a commitment to the idea that while filters might cover the data. Minimalist theorizing represents yet another Chomskyan inroad toward the establishment of a scientific explanation-seeking mode of linguistic inquiry. Language generates expressions containing information that must be legible at the interfaces. A central aspect of the shift from GB to the Minimalist Program is the hypothesis that by exiting the syntax proper and focusing on other modules with which the syntax interacts, people may be able to explain why the syntax is as it is. Current minimalist architecture departs from the standard GB Y-model in postulating that derivation occurs by phase. Instead of interpretation being postponed until after all transformations have been applied, interpretation applies piece by piece.
