reconstruction (n.)

A method used in HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS and COMPARATIVE PHILOLOGY in which a hypothetical SYSTEM of sounds or FORMS representing an earlier, non-extant state of a LANGUAGE (‘PROTO-forms’ in a ‘proto-language’) is established deductively (reconstructed) from an analysis of the attested sounds and forms of extant TEXTS. This process of comparative reconstruction is dependent on the existence of good written records or several known related languages where systematic sound correspondences can be set up. When these do not exist, as in many African and American Indian languages, it is still possible to hypothesize about the historical development of the languages by analyzing the STRUCTURAL regularities and irregularities of their contemporary states, and deducing UNDERLYING forms which might reflect earlier states – a process of internal reconstruction.

In GOVERNMENT-BINDING THEORY, reconstruction is a PROCESS that occurs in the MAPPING from S-STRUCTURE to LOGICAL FORM, moving certain CONSTITUENTS back to their D-STRUCTURE positions. It allows examples like which picture of herself did Mary buy? to be analyzed as ordinary cases of ANAPHORA, in which the ANAPHOR is C-COMMANDED by its ANTECEDENT.