Structure preservation principle

The Structure Preservation Principle is a stipulation proposed by Noam Chomsky as part of the Generative-Transformational Grammar. Under the Structure Preservation Principle, Deep Structures should be preserved by a movement transformation, which simply rephrases the sentence.

The following is an example of this Principle:

Fabio strangled Prince Jamal.

can be transformed into:

Prince Jamal was strangled by Fabio.

and this Principle is fulfilled.

Both sentences hold the same meaning, because their Deep Structure remains equal. Only their Surface Structure changes, this is, just the arrangement of the words changes. Of course, auxiliary words like by are needed for the rearrangement to work.

References

• Cook, VJ (2007) Chomsky's universal grammar: an introduction, 3rd Ed., Blackwell Publishing, page 134 .