ABSTRACT
The author focuses on the theoretical background relevant for a scientific debate on adjuncts. The role of UG, the strong minimalist thesis (SMT), the three factors, their impact on human language, and the tension between uniformity and diversity (cross-linguistic variation) are discussed. The basic property of language, hierarchical structure follows from Merge conceived of as simple set formation, which raises the basic question how to implement adjuncts in this framework. Government & Binding’s X-bar theory assuming Chomsky-adjunction and projection cannot be used for adjuncts in a minimal setting unifying structure-building and movement as External and Internal Merge. Given the most recent labeling algorithm (Chomsky 2013) with labeling conflict resolving strategies, labeling reduces to third-factor (Minimal Search) driven Head-detection independent of Merge. Adjuncts pose a challenge because standard analyses still refer to X-bar theoretic positions as complement (Larson 1988, 2004), specifier (cartographic approach of Cinque 1999, 2004), or adjunct (Chomsky 1986, scopal approach of Ernst 2004). The ultimate goal resulting from the discussion is to integrate adjuncts into a minimal account that is based on Simplest Merge, i.e. a minimal computation in terms of set formation in an un-triggered, free syntax.
