Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 44 views

    Syntax Handout 7 The Complementizer Phrase and Wh-Movement

    Uploaded by

    Ranjish Kumar
    The document summarizes key concepts relating to complementizer phrases and wh-movement in syntax. It states that an IP can contain a complementizer introducing an embedded clause, like "that" or "if". The whole sentence forms a Complementizer Phrase defining the clause type. Wh-movement involves moving a wh-word to the Specifier of CP position. This is similar to subject-auxiliary inversion but is not Case-driven. Wh-movement and DP-movement are compared - wh-movement moves an element to a non-argument A' position in the Specifier of CP, while DP-movement moves an element to an argument A position. Wh-movement does not assign Case to

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Syntax Handout 7 The Complementizer Phrase and Wh-Movement

    Uploaded by

    Ranjish Kumar
    44 views2 pages
    The document summarizes key concepts relating to complementizer phrases and wh-movement in syntax. It states that an IP can contain a complementizer introducing an embedded clause, like "that" or "if". The whole sentence forms a Complementizer Phrase defining the clause type. Wh-movement involves moving a wh-word to the Specifier of CP position. This is similar to subject-auxiliary inversion but is not Case-driven. Wh-movement and DP-movement are compared - wh-movement moves an element to a non-argument A' position in the Specifier of CP, while DP-movement moves an element to an argument A position. Wh-movement does not assign Case to

    Original Title

    SYNTAXho7_Wh_EndtermSample.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document summarizes key concepts relating to complementizer phrases and wh-movement in syntax. It states that an IP can contain a complementizer introducing an embedded clause, like "that" or "if". The whole sentence forms a Complementizer Phrase defining the clause type. Wh-movement involves moving a wh-word to the Specifier of CP position. This is similar to subject-auxiliary inversion but is not Case-driven. Wh-movement and DP-movement are compared - wh-movement moves an element to a non-argument A' position in the Specifier of CP, while DP-movement moves an element to an argument A position. Wh-movement does not assign Case to

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    44 views2 pages

    Syntax Handout 7 The Complementizer Phrase and Wh-Movement

    Uploaded by

    Ranjish Kumar
    The document summarizes key concepts relating to complementizer phrases and wh-movement in syntax. It states that an IP can contain a complementizer introducing an embedded clause, like "that" or "if". The whole sentence forms a Complementizer Phrase defining the clause type. Wh-movement involves moving a wh-word to the Specifier of CP position. This is similar to subject-auxiliary inversion but is not Case-driven. Wh-movement and DP-movement are compared - wh-movement moves an element to a non-argument A' position in the Specifier of CP, while DP-movement moves an element to an argument A position. Wh-movement does not assign Case to

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    SYNTAX

    Handout 7

    THE COMPLEMENTIZER PHRASE AND WH-MOVEMENT

    IP: made up of a subject and a predicate, but certain (embedded) clauses are introduced by a
    constituent preceding the subject: that, if, for → complementisers (they introduce a
    sentential complement)

    The whole sentence is a Complementiser Phrase (CP) defining the force of the clause
    (interrogative or indicative interpretation). Main clause indicatives: zero C head.

    Wh-movement
    Who1 will Mary invite t1?
    Will1 Mary t1 invite Peter?

    Question words: Spec, CP


    moved auxiliary: I-to-C movement (the transformational equvivalent of Subject-Auxiliary
    Inversion, SAI). not Case-driven, the wh-word is assigned Case in the position it comes from.

    DP-movement and Wh-movement compared:

    Shared properties:
    1. Movement is obligatory.
    2. The landing site of movement is an empty positon.
    3. Movement leaves a trace.
    4. The trace is coindexed with the moved element, the antecedent, with which it forms a chain, the
    movement chain.

    The most important differences:


    DP-movement (A-movement) Wh-movement (A’-movement)
    the moved element DP Wh-word
    the launching site an A(rgument)-position an A- or A’(non-argument)-
    position
    the landing site an A-position an A’-position
    the landing position Spec, IP of a finite clause Spec, CP
    availability of Case in landing yes no
    site

    Endterm sample

    I. Definitions: in the case of abbreviations it is not enough to identify what they stand for,
    you also have to specify what they mean. Whenever possible give examples as well. (16
    points)
    generative grammar
    adjunct rule
    argument vs. complement
    Thematic Criterion
    Projection Principle
    language faculty
    UTAH
    object complement
    the canonical subject position
    Wh-movement vs. DP-movement
    intransitive vs. unaccusative verb
    cognate object
    the Case Filter

    II. Explaining ungrammatical structures. Remember that it is not enough to point out what
    the grammatical form would be, you are also expected to explain the ungrammaticalities
    using the notions discussed in class. At times drawing a tree can also be useful. (12 points)
    *John’s the book, *the he, *there sat the man in the study, *there sang a man in the study
    *The door opened an opening.
    *Him was invited. *I invited he.
    *There grew a tree bigger.

    III. Drawing a tree for two sentences (a question and a statement with detailed DPs). The
    trees should also indicate which constituents assign Case to the DPs in the sentences. (12
    points)
    What will Peter say?
    John’s mother put the books on the chair.
    They arrived.

    You might also like