'Tough'-constructions and their derivation
'Tough'-constructions and their derivation
This article addresses the syntax of the notorious 'tough' (-movement) construction (TC) in English. TCs exhibit a range of apparently contradictory empirical properties suggesting that their derivation involves the application of both A-movement and A'-movement operations. Given that within previous
Principles and Parameters models TCs have remained “unexplained and in principle unexplainable” (Holmberg 2000: 839) due to incompatibility with constraints on theta-assignment, locality, and Case, this article argues that the phase-based implementation of the Minimalist program (Chomsky 2000,
2001, 2004) permits a reanalysis of null wh-operators capable of circumventing the previous theoretical difficulties. Essentially, 'tough'-movement consists of A-moving a constituent out of a “complex” null operator which has already undergone A'-movement, a “smuggling” construction in the terms of Collins (2005a,b)
tough-movement, null operators, a-bar movement, raising, phases
535-566
Hicks, Glyn
1f3753b1-1224-4cd3-8af3-5bf708062831
14 October 2009
Hicks, Glyn
1f3753b1-1224-4cd3-8af3-5bf708062831
Abstract
This article addresses the syntax of the notorious 'tough' (-movement) construction (TC) in English. TCs exhibit a range of apparently contradictory empirical properties suggesting that their derivation involves the application of both A-movement and A'-movement operations. Given that within previous
Principles and Parameters models TCs have remained “unexplained and in principle unexplainable” (Holmberg 2000: 839) due to incompatibility with constraints on theta-assignment, locality, and Case, this article argues that the phase-based implementation of the Minimalist program (Chomsky 2000,
2001, 2004) permits a reanalysis of null wh-operators capable of circumventing the previous theoretical difficulties. Essentially, 'tough'-movement consists of A-moving a constituent out of a “complex” null operator which has already undergone A'-movement, a “smuggling” construction in the terms of Collins (2005a,b)
More information
Published date: 14 October 2009
Keywords:
tough-movement, null operators, a-bar movement, raising, phases
Organisations:
Modern Languages
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 69052
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/69052
ISSN: 0024-3892
PURE UUID: 142c5f47-a274-40d2-b522-5f97f68a912a
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Date deposited: 20 Oct 2009
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:53
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