ABSTRACT
In Chomsky (1989) the following picture of the grammar is proposed: There are three fundamental levels of representation: Logical Form (LF), D-structure and Phonetic Form (PF). They are interface levels with the central conceptual systems, the lexicon and with motor-perceptual systems respectively. Principles of Universal Grammar (UG) determine properties of these levels of representation, which furthermore have to satisfy “external” constraints that are consequential on their interface status. The three interface levels are taken not to be related to each other directly – the relationship among them is mediated (solely) by S-structure. Properties of S-structure are determined by the fundamental levels and by the requirement that all three be related to it by the postulated system of principles. “The level of S-structure for L [ a given language, MB] is the system that satisfies these conditions, something like the solution to a certain set of equations” (p. 3).
