Huang, C-TRoberts, Ian2021-04-262016-12-22Huang, C-T. James, and Ian Roberts. "Principles and Parameters of Universal Grammar." In The Oxford Handbook of Universal Grammar, 306-354. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016.9780199573776https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37367394The Principles-and-Parameters Theory marked an important milestone in formal linguistic theoryby offering a plausible solution to the logical problem of language acquisition, leading to a productive field of inquiry that uncovered important universal properties and macro-patterns of parametric variation among an unprecedented number of languages. Recent advances in parametric theory have capitalized on microparametric variation, raising certain questions about the status of macro-parameters. In this chapter, developing recent work and using the facts of Chinese as a paradigm case, we show that (a) both macro- and microparameters are needed in linguistic theory, (b) macroparameters are simply aggregates of microparameters acting in concert with a conservative learning strategy, and (c) the (micro)parameters themselves are hierarchically organized. Assuming a ‘three factors’ model, we take parameters to be emergent properties that result from the interaction of a radically unspecified UG, experience, and third-factor principles like Feature Economy and Input Generalization.en-USparametric theorymacroparametersmicroparametersfeature economyinput generalizationModern and Old ChineseMonograph or Book2021-04-2610.1093/oxfordhb/9780199573776.013.14