The possibility of a minimalist derivation to represent on-line computation is considered. The relationship between Generative Linguistics and Psycholinguistics is put in perspective in order to highlight convergent developments. Two difficulties are identified in the unification grammar-language processor in a single algorithm: The directionality of the derivation (bottom-up), vis-à-vis incremental processing; predicting costly and uncostly syntactic movement. A top-down/bottom-up model is proposed in which the directionality of the computation is a function of the relationship between elements of functional and lexical categories with the conceptual/intentional system, is actual language use. Syntactic movement that stems from discourse demands is the sole movement operation implemented on-line.
Unification problem; minimalism; incrementality; syntatic movement
