Trace erasure principle
Encyclopedia
The Trace Erasure Principle is a stipulation proposed by Noam Chomsky
as part of the Generative-Transformational Grammar
. Under the Trace Erasure Principle, traces of an NP
can be replaced only by a designated morpheme and not by an arbitrary NP.
The following is an example of this Principle:
can be transformed into:
and this Principle remains fulfilled.
Both sentences hold the same meaning, because we have designated There to replace a person —both terms are mutually linked—, and the meaning remains.
A case where this principle is not fulfilled can be the following:
transformed into:
Obviously, the meaning of the latter is radically different from that of the first. We have replaced Mario with Maria, and their meaning is not linked. We have arbitrarily chosen Mario to replace Maria.
But the following sentence fulfills the Principle:
In this case, who identifies with Maria.
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
as part of the Generative-Transformational Grammar
Generative grammar
In theoretical linguistics, generative grammar refers to a particular approach to the study of syntax. A generative grammar of a language attempts to give a set of rules that will correctly predict which combinations of words will form grammatical sentences...
. Under the Trace Erasure Principle, traces of an NP
Noun phrase
In grammar, a noun phrase, nominal phrase, or nominal group is a phrase based on a noun, pronoun, or other noun-like word optionally accompanied by modifiers such as adjectives....
can be replaced only by a designated morpheme and not by an arbitrary NP.
The following is an example of this Principle:
- A person is here, waiting for you.
can be transformed into:
- There is a person here, waiting for you.
and this Principle remains fulfilled.
Both sentences hold the same meaning, because we have designated There to replace a person —both terms are mutually linked—, and the meaning remains.
A case where this principle is not fulfilled can be the following:
- Maria loves Mario.
transformed into:
- Mario loves Maria.
Obviously, the meaning of the latter is radically different from that of the first. We have replaced Mario with Maria, and their meaning is not linked. We have arbitrarily chosen Mario to replace Maria.
But the following sentence fulfills the Principle:
- Maria, who loves Mario.
In this case, who identifies with Maria.