This paper is concerned with the syntactic operation merge. I propose a representational-derivational model that can derive non-local relations that are problematic for Chomsky’s (2000, et seq.) phase model with the Phase Impenetrability Condition. The problematic non-local relations can be derived in a local fashion if the whole set of information resulting from the operation merge is visible for syntactic operations. To derive the difference in locality behaviour between the operations agree and move, I propose that for agree, only the information on the sister syntactic object is relevant, and that for move – because it is a composed operation – the tree information with the Phase Impenetrability Condition is also relevant. I also show that c-selection behaves differently from s-selection and agree with respect to the information given by the operation merge.
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