The status of transformations in the minimalist program and the logical problem of language acquisition: An apparent disagreement

In this paper, two assumptions defended within the Minimalist Program are a nalysed: the obligatory status of transformations and the consideration of the acquisition process as if it were instantaneous. The joint defense of b oth assumptions seems to have a contradictory character if the usual claims about the logical problem of language acquisition are considered: however, the contradiction is only apparent, given the new nature of the research i n the Minimalist Program, where, in opposition to the previous stages, expl anatory adequacy is not primarily related to the construction of a theory o f language acquisition. This paper offers a clear example of this conceptua l shift.