Commonalities between syntactic and phonological search algorithms - Towards a domain-neutral formulation of Minimal Search

Developments in Minimalist syntax have explored the extent to which core operations of the syntactic component can be unified through a Minimal Search algorithm. In parallel, rule-based models of phonology, chiefly Search-and-Copy, suggest that the phonological component adheres to the same Minimalist principles as syntax. This paper examines the similarities between these Search algorithms to propose a unified, domain-neutral Minimal Search, leveraging the similarities in representation and computation across both domains. Additionally, it suggests the application of this domain-neutral Search in spreading domains, which are extended from non-manual markers to account for cases of morphosyntactic concord and phonological iterativity.