Variation and Bulgarian Inner Aspect

Of ongoing interest within generative grammar is the proper treatment of language variation in terms of parameters. One important recent question concerns the existence of macro-parameters. Baker (2008) outlines three ways to determine whether a parameter is macro or not, one of which relates to the size of effect, or impact of a parameter. The greater the size of effect, or impact a parameter has on the grammar of a language, the more likely this parameter is macro. In this sense, it has the feel of a classic GB-style parameter which produces large effects as a result of a richly specified universal grammar (UG) (Chomsky 1981). Under minimalism, however, UG is impoverished compared to UG under GB, leading to different expectations for the nature of a parameter (see, for instance, Boeckx in press, Sigurðsson 2004). Moreover, the clustering of effects of a single GB parameter, such as, for instance, the null subject parameter (see Rizzi 1982), can often be reduced to several interacting micro-parameters, based on which some have concluded that the principles and parameters endeavor has failed (see, for instance, Newmeyer 2005). Moreover, Kayne (2005: 289-290), among others, has questioned how theoretically revealing the notion size of effect, or impact