It is a reference guide of diagnostics that linguists have used to study human natural language in the generative syntax over the last five decades. Noam Chomsky, who claims that human natural language is akin to natural objects such as snowflakes, considers that the law of economy governs language structure and mechanisms. The "litmus" test used as syntactic diagnostics is an experiment for examining the principles and mechanisms of the human brain's computational system, which is self-organized and self-consistent. In this sense, this book is a reference guide of natural-language experiments and their results. This handbook of diagnostics contains the result of "properly designed serious experiments that are theory-guided (Noam Chomsky)."

The diagnostics are presented in a simple, uniform manner. First, the diagnostics is presented in the simplest "if X, then Y" statement, which is easily duplicated by computers to make a heuristic program (Michio Kaku). The formal features that are relevant to the diagnostics are then provided, followed by the references. Next, the experiment is presented, beginning with the tested samples, followed by the purpose of the test. The samples are test, and the results are simply and clearly stated, followed by a detailed explanation including the logic of the argument (e.g., reduction to absurdity) and relevant structures and derivations if necessary. In the Appendix, I summarized assessments and constructive criticisms of the experiments, presented with further evidence from other examples, alternative analyses, problems, and counterexamples for future research. I separated these assessments and criticisms in the Appendix from the main text, in which I highlighted the original insights and copyrights of the proposed diagnostics. Good, solid logic is often hidden in the text, and not readily visible in the form of simple diagnostics. I turn the good logic into diagnostics: "If X, then Y."

The book contains about 300 diagnostics that are used in syntactic analysis. I classify the diagnostics into groups based on their specific purposes. When you are looking for the diagnostics for such and such, the first place you go is the "road map for high-ways." There are two main entrances for high-ways: structure (static) and derivation (dynamic). The high-way-road map contains 18 high-ways that lead you instantaneously to your high-way exit, or the new entrance (specific diagnostics) to your quest. Then you go to the "road map for branch lines" that leads you to your final destination (the answer to your question). The 18 high-ways are; Structure: Does it exist? (existence), Is it ...? (identification), What is it? (nature of position), What is the structure? (internal structure of constituent), Where is it? (position), Does it exist there? (occupation), Do they form a unit? (constituency), Is it a functional head? Where is it? (functional head), How can I define it? (definition), Derivation: Is it a feature? Where is it? Is it deleted? (features), Does it project? (projection), Does it move? (move), What is the nature of movement? (nature of landing site), Is this movement obligatory? (obligatory vs. optional move), Is this derivation good? (legitimacy), When does it happen? (timing), Does this feature move? (feature move), Is this copied? (evidence for copy operation). For example, after you leave the "Do they form a unit" high-way, you are provided with 22 branch lines (tests) to go, for "What is the structure" high-way, 24 branch lines (tests), and for "Does it move" high-way, 43 branch lines (tests).

To order in English, please go to Amazon.co.jp.