Generatieve Syntaxis. De balans tussen eenvoud en complexiteit

The development of the minimalist program and optimality theory has considerably changed the format of generative syntax. This article sketches some possible consequences of these changes for the description of a number of phenomena that are characteristic for Dutch (and German) and have traditionally been the focus of much attention: the predominant OV order, Extraposition of clauses and PPs, Verb second, Scrambling and, finally, the preverbal placement of small clause predicates. The minimalist program in particular emphasises explanatory adequacy and it is well known that this normally complicates actual language description. The exercise in this paper aims at showing that the complications arising in describing the phenomena mentioned above remain within reason.