Categorías funcionales, categorías léxicas y rasgos. Un intento de simplificación

Abstract

In this article we reflect on the nature, constitution and functioning of the so called Functional Categories (FC) from a theoretical point of view. The relation between these categories and the Lexical Categories (LC) are reviewed and the difference between FC and the features of such categories are analysed. Our analysis and the revision of some proposals show us that both categories are firmly linked and that the FC envelop the LC, as it were. There is no substantial difference between the FC and features o the categories as they are both linked to a category, thus forming a syntactic and interpretative basic structure. We therefore propose a simplification of the projection of the computational system based on the features of the categories (whether lexical or not, thus avoiding a proliferation of the FC.