Contrast and representations in syntax

Abstract

This introductory chapter gives an overview of how views of both contrast and features developed in linguistics, and how they are situated in contemporary Minimalist syntactic theory. It observes that though features have come to play a crucial role in Minimalism as the drivers of syntactic operations and the locus of parametric variation, less attention has been paid to the connection between this and their role in definine paradigmatic contrast. Against this backdrop, the chapter relates each of the subsequent chapters to the overall themes of the volume, discussing the different ways in which they address the theme of contrast and representations.