constraints on this theory: the Endocentricity Constraint, the Modifier Maximality constraint, and Category Neutrality Constraint. The Endocentricity Constraint states, “the output of a rule must contain a category of the same type as the input category” (Class notes). The Modifier Maximality Constraint states that every non-head term must itself be a maximal projection of some category. This means that the sequence must be P-P’-P”, where P” is the maximal projection of the category P. The Category Neutrality Constraint states that “all categorial rules must be formulated in terms of category variables”, consequently eliminating all categorial rules (Class notes). These rules and constraints are said to be universals, with the exception of languages differing along two parameters: “The configurationality parameter, which determines whether the elements in the phrase are hierarchically organised in a fixed way or they are in a flat structure, and The linear ordering parameter or the head first head last parameter” (Class notes).Our analysis of phrases is now complete. The only category that has yet to be analysed according to X-bar analysis is S’. Let us consider the sentence I hope that the flight will arrive on time. We used to represent it:the flight will arrive on timeThere is a weakness in this analysis due to the following reasons: 1) it is a phrasal category, but appears with only one bar instead of two. 2) The phrasal category S’ is not a projection of a lexical head. And 3) the main element of S’ is the lexical item of the Complementizer. Although this COMP is viewed as the head, it has no corresponding maximal projection in the analysis above. We may revise the above in order that it may comply with X-bar syntax and avoid these problems in the following way:thatthe flight will arrive on timeThis is a better method of analysis because is complies with X-bar ...
