Episode 13a.Episode 13a.Phases, relative clauses, Phases, relative clauses,

and LF (ch. 10)and LF (ch. 10)

CAS LX 522CAS LX 522Syntax ISyntax I

Reminder: wh-questionsReminder: wh-questions In In whwh-questions such as -questions such as What did they bakeWhat did they bake??

Questions are differentiated from declaratives in having Questions are differentiated from declaratives in having a “question complementizer”:a “question complementizer”: C [ C [uuwh*, clause-type:Q]wh*, clause-type:Q]

WhatWhat is like a pronoun, standing in for the theme. is like a pronoun, standing in for the theme. WhWh-words are differentiated by having a [wh] feature.-words are differentiated by having a [wh] feature. The structure of a The structure of a whwh-question is like a V2 clause:-question is like a V2 clause: T moves to C—except in subject T moves to C—except in subject whwh-questions:-questions:

The [The [uuclause-type:] feature of T is strong when valued as Q.clause-type:] feature of T is strong when valued as Q. The [The [uuclause-type:] feature of T can be valued by [wh] from clause-type:] feature of T can be valued by [wh] from above.above.

The closest (to C; topmost) The closest (to C; topmost) whwh-word moves to SpecCP:-word moves to SpecCP: The interrogative C has a strong uninterpretable [The interrogative C has a strong uninterpretable [uuwh*wh*] ] feature.feature.

““Superiority”: Shorter moves are better, take the closest Superiority”: Shorter moves are better, take the closest whwh-word.-word.

What will they bake?What will they bake? What What moves to moves to

SpecCP and checks SpecCP and checks the [the [uuwh*] feature wh*] feature of C.of C.

T moves to check T moves to check the (now strong) the (now strong) [[uuclause-type:Q*clause-type:Q*] ] feature.feature. (Not pictured (Not pictured

here)here)

C

C[Q, uwh*]

CP

DPwhat[wh]

VPv

T

v

vVbake

TP

DPthey

T[uclause-type:]

<V> <DP>

<DP>

vP

MP

<M>

TM

will

Who signed the press Who signed the press release?release?

In In subject whsubject wh--questions, T questions, T does does notnot move to move to C.C.

Now the head of Now the head of T’s sister T’s sister isis vv, , so tense is so tense is pronounced on pronounced on the verb.the verb.

VP

v

T

TP

C

<DP>

C[Q,uwh*]

<V> DPthe pressrelease

<DP>

vP

CP

DPwho[wh]

T[past,

[uclause-type:wh]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vsign

Will they bake pie?Will they bake pie? OpOp appears appears in yes-no in yes-no questions in questions in the same the same place that place that whwh-words do -words do in in whwh--questions questions (and we (and we assume it assume it has a [wh] has a [wh] feature as feature as well).well).

OpOp is is probably probably like a like a “silent” “silent” whetherwhether ((whwh++eithereither).).

VP

v

T

v

vVbake

TP

C

DPthey

C[Q,uwh*]

Twill

[uclause-type:]

<V> DPpie

<DP>

vP

CP

DPOp

[wh]

Scottish Gaelic tells Scottish Gaelic tells us us whwh-words stop in -words stop in intermediate SpecCPsintermediate SpecCPs Bha mi ag ràdh Bha mi ag ràdh gungun do bhuail i e. do bhuail i e.

was I was I ASPASP saying saying thatthat PRTPRT struck she himstruck she him‘I was saying that she hit him.’‘I was saying that she hit him.’

Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gugu bheil Iain air a mhisg. bheil Iain air a mhisg.am I am I ASPASP thinking thinking thatthat is Iain on is Iain on his drinkhis drink‘I think that Iain is drunk.’‘I think that Iain is drunk.’

Cò bha thu ag ràdh Cò bha thu ag ràdh aa bhuail i?bhuail i?who were you who were you ASPASP saying saying thatthat struck she struck she‘Who were you saying that she hit?’‘Who were you saying that she hit?’

Cò tha thu a’ smaoineachadh Cò tha thu a’ smaoineachadh aa tha air a tha air a mhisg?mhisg?who are you who are you ASPASP thinking thinking thatthat is on his is on his drinkdrink‘Who do you think is drunk?’‘Who do you think is drunk?’

““Unbounded” movement is Unbounded” movement is really a bunch of really a bunch of relatively short relatively short

movements.movements. Where it looked like Where it looked like whwh-words were moving -words were moving over great distances, those distances were over great distances, those distances were traversed in small steps.traversed in small steps.

What did Kate think What did Kate think [[CP CP <what> <what> Claire saidClaire said[[CP CP <what> <what> Charlie heardCharlie heard[[CP CP <what> <what> Jack brought Jack brought

<what><what> ]]] ]]]??

If If whwh-movement is in fact constrained not -movement is in fact constrained not to move “too far”, this explains how it to move “too far”, this explains how it can can looklook like like wh-wh-movement is unbounded.movement is unbounded.

What it means to “move What it means to “move too far”too far”

Two questions:Two questions: Why Why can can a a whwh-word stop in an -word stop in an intermediate SpecCP?intermediate SpecCP? [[CPCP What did Abe say What did Abe say [[CPCP <what><what> that Bart that Bart stole stole <what><what>]]]]??

Why Why mustmust a a whwh-word stop in an -word stop in an intermediate SpecCP?intermediate SpecCP? *[*[CPCP What did Abe say What did Abe say [[CPCP that Bart stole that Bart stole <what><what>]]]]??

PhasesPhases Sentences are built up in “chunks”, called Sentences are built up in “chunks”, called phasesphases..

A CP constitutes a phase.A CP constitutes a phase. You build (collecting items from the workbench, You build (collecting items from the workbench, Merging, Moving) until you’ve built a phase. Merging, Moving) until you’ve built a phase. Then, you “commit” it—after which, you can’t Then, you “commit” it—after which, you can’t “see into it” further than the specifier.“see into it” further than the specifier. [[CPCP CC[[uuwh*wh*]] [[TPTP AbeAbe T T saysay [[CPCP that [that [TP TP Bart stole what…Bart stole what… [[CPCP CC[[uuwh*wh*]] [[TPTP AbeAbe T T saysay [[CPCP whatwhat that [that [TP TP Bart stole Bart stole <what>…<what>…

If [If [uuwh*wh*] is ] is ever ever going to be checked, going to be checked, whatwhat must be visible to it. It must get to SpecCP must be visible to it. It must get to SpecCP before it’s too late (before the CP is finished before it’s too late (before the CP is finished and “committed”).and “committed”).

Optional [Optional [uu wh*] wh*] To allow To allow whatwhat to move to an embedded SpecCP, we to move to an embedded SpecCP, we need to be able to add (optionally) a [need to be able to add (optionally) a [uuwh*wh*] ] feature even to a C that is not itself [clause-feature even to a C that is not itself [clause-type:Q].type:Q].

[[CPCP CC[[uuwh*wh*]] [[TPTP AbeAbe T T saysay [[CPCP whatwhat that [that [TP TP Bart stole Bart stole <what>…<what>…

If you don’t, the topmost [If you don’t, the topmost [uuwh*wh*] can never be ] can never be checked.checked.

Embedded C may optionally bear [Embedded C may optionally bear [uuwh*wh*].].

Phases explain islands: Phases explain islands: WhWh-islands-islands

It’s not possible to turn the following sentence It’s not possible to turn the following sentence into a question asking about the kidnappee—into a question asking about the kidnappee—

Pat asked Pat asked [[CPCP who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby]]..

*Who did Pat ask *Who did Pat ask [[CPCP who kidnapped who kidnapped <who><who>]]??

Because the lower Because the lower whowho can’t move up to the can’t move up to the intermediate SpecCP—It gets frozen inside the intermediate SpecCP—It gets frozen inside the phase.phase.

But—what’s wrong with this?But—what’s wrong with this?*Who did Pat ask *Who did Pat ask [[CPCP <who><who> kidnapped who kidnapped who ]]??

CNP islands—DP is a CNP islands—DP is a phasephase

We can use the same kind of explanation We can use the same kind of explanation for the Complex Noun Phrase islands:for the Complex Noun Phrase islands:

*Who does Jack believe*Who does Jack believe[[DPDP the claim the claim [[CPCP that the list does not include that the list does not include _ _ ]]]]??

If we suppose that If we suppose that DP, like CP, is a DP, like CP, is a phasephase..

*Who does Jack believe*Who does Jack believe[[DPDP the claim [the claim [CPCP that the list does not include that the list does not include _ ]_ ]]]??

Adjunct islandsAdjunct islands One last type of island we’ll consider is One last type of island we’ll consider is the the adjunct islandadjunct island. Generally: . Generally: A A whwh-word -word cannot escape an adjoined modifier.cannot escape an adjoined modifier.

Dr. Hibbert laughed Dr. Hibbert laughed [[CPCP when Homer lost a when Homer lost a fingerfinger]]..

*What did Dr. Hibbert laugh *What did Dr. Hibbert laugh [[CPCP when Homer when Homer lostlost]]??

We don’t yet have a good explanation for We don’t yet have a good explanation for this. So far, we predict these should be this. So far, we predict these should be possible.possible.

Adjunct islandsAdjunct islands To account for the islandhood of adjuncts in To account for the islandhood of adjuncts in our system, we will add one further our system, we will add one further condition:condition:

The specifier of a phase is only visible to The specifier of a phase is only visible to feature matching if the phase gets a feature matching if the phase gets a -role.-role. Note:Note: Adger makes this one step more complicated, Adger makes this one step more complicated, to account for “subject islands” but we won’t do to account for “subject islands” but we won’t do that here.that here.

Adjuncts differ from arguments in precisely Adjuncts differ from arguments in precisely this property.this property.

Islands and phases, Islands and phases, summary…summary…

Sentences are “chunked” into Sentences are “chunked” into phasesphases as they as they are built up. Phases are are built up. Phases are CPCP and and DPDP..

A feature outside of a phase cannot match a A feature outside of a phase cannot match a feature further inside the phase than its feature further inside the phase than its specifier.specifier.

This leads to This leads to island phenomenaisland phenomena, configurations , configurations in which a in which a whwh-word would be “trapped”:-word would be “trapped”: CNP islands:CNP islands: A A whwh-word cannot get to the specifier -word cannot get to the specifier of DP and so is not visible from outside.of DP and so is not visible from outside.

WhWh-islands:-islands: A A whwh-word cannot get to the specifier of -word cannot get to the specifier of an embedded question (that already has a an embedded question (that already has a whwh-word, or -word, or OpOp, in its specifier)., in its specifier).

Adjunct islands:Adjunct islands: Even the specifier is not visible Even the specifier is not visible if the phase did not get a if the phase did not get a -role.-role.

““Island effects” are a Island effects” are a property of property of movementmovement..

Consider the following:Consider the following: Jack believes Jack believes [[DPDP the claim [the claim [CPCP that the list does not include that the list does not include

Ethan ]Ethan ]]]?? *Who does Jack believe *Who does Jack believe [[DPDP the claim [the claim [CPCP that the list does not that the list does not

include _ ]include _ ]]]?? Who believesWho believes [[DPDP the claim [the claim [CPCP that the list does not include that the list does not include

who ]who ]]]??

Dr. Hibbert laughed Dr. Hibbert laughed [[CPCP when when Homer lost a fingerHomer lost a finger ]].. *What did Dr. Hibbert laugh *What did Dr. Hibbert laugh [[CPCP when when Homer lost _Homer lost _ ]]?? Who laughedWho laughed [[CPCP when when Homer lost whatHomer lost what ]]??

So long as the So long as the whwh-phrase doesn’t -phrase doesn’t movemove,, it it seems that there’s no problem with simply seems that there’s no problem with simply having a having a whwh-phrase inside an island.-phrase inside an island.

““Island effects” are a Island effects” are a property of property of movementmovement

Japanese: a Japanese: a whwh-in-situ language.-in-situ language.

Taroo-ga Taroo-ga [[DPDP Hanako-ni Hanako-ni nani-onani-o ageta hito-ni ageta hito-ni ]] aimasita ka? aimasita ka?T-nom H-dat T-nom H-dat what-accwhat-acc gave man-dat met.pol Q gave man-dat met.pol Q‘*What did Taro meet [ the man that gave _ to Hanako ]?’‘*What did Taro meet [ the man that gave _ to Hanako ]?’

Taroo-ga Taroo-ga [[CPCP Hanako-ga Hanako-ga nani-onani-o yomu maeni yomu maeni ]] dekakemasita ka? dekakemasita ka?T-nom H-nom T-nom H-nom what-accwhat-acc read before left.pol read before left.pol Q Q‘*What did Taro leave [ before Hanako read _ ]?’‘*What did Taro leave [ before Hanako read _ ]?’

WhWh-words don’t move. Islands don’t matter.-words don’t move. Islands don’t matter.

Why phases?Why phases? One of the main motivations behind phases One of the main motivations behind phases (conceptually—empirically, there is plenty of (conceptually—empirically, there is plenty of evidence) is that is makes computation easier.evidence) is that is makes computation easier. That is, again, the system is lazy. It works in That is, again, the system is lazy. It works in chunks, it never has to look too far to find a chunks, it never has to look too far to find a feature for checking.feature for checking.

What happens when a phase is “committed”?What happens when a phase is “committed”? The standard idea is that the The standard idea is that the phonological phonological interpretationinterpretation and and semantic interpretationsemantic interpretation of that of that chunk becomes fixed, and can’t be altered later. chunk becomes fixed, and can’t be altered later. Terminology: Terminology: “Spell-out”“Spell-out”

Terminology:Terminology: The requirement that movement not The requirement that movement not go “too far” (not escape a committed phase) was go “too far” (not escape a committed phase) was known in the old days as known in the old days as SubjacencySubjacency—you may —you may still encounter this term when talking to still encounter this term when talking to linguists at parties (or reading older papers).linguists at parties (or reading older papers).

Relative clausesRelative clauses

Another place where we see Another place where we see whwh--movement, besides in explicit movement, besides in explicit questions (either in the main questions (either in the main clause or embedded) is in clause or embedded) is in relative relative clausesclauses.. The book which I readThe book which I read The woman who(m) I metThe woman who(m) I met

These consist of a These consist of a head nounhead noun ((bookbook, , womanwoman) and then what appears to be ) and then what appears to be a a whwh-question that further -question that further specifies the referent of the head specifies the referent of the head noun.noun.

Relative clausesRelative clauses

Relative clauses serve to Relative clauses serve to modifymodify the head noun.the head noun.

Kind of like adjectives, or PP Kind of like adjectives, or PP modifiers.modifiers. The unhappy students.The unhappy students. The students from Vancouver.The students from Vancouver. The students who solved the problem.The students who solved the problem.

So where would you put them?So where would you put them?

Relative Relative clausesclauses

The structure of a The structure of a relative clause:relative clause: A CP [clause-A CP [clause-type:Rel, type:Rel, uuwh*] is wh*] is adjoined to the NP, adjoined to the NP, like an adjective, like an adjective, or a PP modifier.or a PP modifier.

The meaning is The meaning is essentially “the man essentially “the man with the property of with the property of being the answer to being the answer to ‘Who did I meet?’ ”‘Who did I meet?’ ”

We’ll see in a We’ll see in a moment that C [Rel] moment that C [Rel] can be pronounced as can be pronounced as either Ø or as either Ø or as thatthat..

C[uwh*][c-t:Rel]

C

CP

TP

I met ti

man

nPDthe

DP

nP

DPi

who(m)

Differences between Differences between questions and relative questions and relative

clausesclauses The “question” inside a relative The “question” inside a relative clause has a couple of odd clause has a couple of odd properties, not shared with regular properties, not shared with regular main clause or embedded questions.main clause or embedded questions.

*The problem what I solved.*The problem what I solved. The problem which I solved.The problem which I solved. The problem which I will solve.The problem which I will solve. The problem I solved.The problem I solved. The problem that I solved.The problem that I solved.

Which/that/ØWhich/that/Ø

In addition to being able to sayIn addition to being able to say The book which Mary readThe book which Mary read

We can also sayWe can also say The book that Mary readThe book that Mary read

andand The book Mary readThe book Mary read

And they all mean the same thing. So And they all mean the same thing. So we expect that they would all have we expect that they would all have basically the same structure (they all basically the same structure (they all have a question adjoined in the have a question adjoined in the nnP)P)—so —so where is the where is the whwh-word in the last two?-word in the last two?

OpOp

The secret to these last two kinds The secret to these last two kinds of relative clauses is of relative clauses is OpOp, the , the silent silent whwh-word-word..

That is, That is, the book which Mary readthe book which Mary read and and the book Mary readthe book Mary read are really are really exactly the same except that in one exactly the same except that in one case you pronounce the case you pronounce the whwh-word, and -word, and in the other, you don’t.in the other, you don’t. the book [the book [CPCP which whichii Mary read Mary read ttii ] ]

the book [the book [CPCP OpOpii Mary read Mary read ttii ] ]

OpOp

It is also possible to pronounce It is also possible to pronounce thatthat with with OpOp, giving us:, giving us:

the book [the book [CPCP OpOpii that [ that [TPTP Mary read Mary read ttii ]] ]]

Why can’t we pronounce Why can’t we pronounce thatthat with with whichwhich??

*the book [*the book [CPCP which whichii that [ that [TPTP Mary read Mary read ttii ]] ]]

Doubly-Filled COMP Doubly-Filled COMP filterfilter

The The Doubly-Filled COMP filterDoubly-Filled COMP filter is the traditional is the traditional “explanation”:“explanation”:

Doubly-Filled COMP filterDoubly-Filled COMP filter::*[*[CPCP whwh-word if/that/for…]-word if/that/for…]

You can’t pronounce both a You can’t pronounce both a whwh-word and C at the -word and C at the same time. Thus:same time. Thus: the book [the book [CPCP OpOpii [ [TPTP Mary read Mary read ttii ]] ]] the book [the book [CPCP OpOpii that [ that [TPTP Mary read Mary read ttii ]] ]] the book [the book [CPCP whichwhichii [ [TPTP Mary read Mary read ttii ]] ]] *the book [*the book [CPCP whichwhichii that [ that [TPTP Mary read Mary read ttii ]] ]]

OpOp

Skeptical of Skeptical of OpOp? Is there really ? Is there really whwh--movement of movement of OpOp, a silent , a silent whwh-phrase?-phrase?

I read the book [I read the book [CPCP which whichii [ [TPTP Mary said Mary said[[CPCP that [ that [TPTP Bill bought Bill bought ttii ]]]]. ]]]].

*I read the book [*I read the book [CPCP which whichii [ [IPIP Mary wonders Mary wonders[[CPCP who [ who [TPTP bought bought ttii ]]]]. ]]]].

I read the book [I read the book [CPCP OpOpii (that) [ (that) [TPTP Mary said Mary said[[CPCP that [ that [TPTP Bill bought Bill bought ttii ]]]]. ]]]].

*I read the book [*I read the book [CPCP OpOpii (that) [ (that) [TPTP Mary Mary wonderswonders

[[CPCP who [ who [TPTP bought bought ttii ]]]]. ]]]].

OpOp So if we have a silent So if we have a silent whwh-phrase, why can’t -phrase, why can’t we ask questions with it?we ask questions with it? WhereWhereii did Mary buy this book did Mary buy this book ttii ? ?

The place [The place [OpOpii Mary bought this book Mary bought this book ttii ] ] WhenWhenii did Mary buy this book did Mary buy this book ttii ? ?

The time [The time [OpOpii Mary bought this book Mary bought this book ttii ] ] WhyWhyii did Mary buy this book did Mary buy this book ttii ? ?

The reason [The reason [OpOpii Mary bought this book Mary bought this book ttii ] ] HowHowii did Mary buy this book did Mary buy this book ttii ? ?

The way [The way [OpOpii Mary bought this book Mary bought this book ttii ] ]

**OpOpii did Mary buy this book did Mary buy this book ttii ? ?

See why?See why?

OpOp

Recoverability condition:Recoverability condition: The content of a The content of a null category must be recoverable.null category must be recoverable. the place [the place [OpOpii (that) Mary bought that book (that) Mary bought that book ttii ] ]

the day [the day [OpOpii (that) Mary bought that book (that) Mary bought that book ttii ] ]

the reason [the reason [OpOpii (that) Mary bought that book (that) Mary bought that book ttii ] ]

the way [the way [OpOpii (that) Mary bought that book (that) Mary bought that book ttii ] ]

In each case, we can tell what the In each case, we can tell what the whwh--phrase is by looking at the head noun.phrase is by looking at the head noun.

A word about A word about interpretationinterpretation

Let’s think for a moment about Let’s think for a moment about what a what a whwh-question means:-question means:

Who did Pat meet?Who did Pat meet?[[CPCP [ [DPDP who] who]ii T Tkk+C [+C [TPTP Pat meet Pat meet ttkk]]]]

Something like (a ‘logical Something like (a ‘logical form’):form’):Tell me (a person) Tell me (a person) xx

such that such that Pat met xPat met x is true. is true.

Pronouncing & Pronouncing & interpretinginterpreting

There are two things we need to do There are two things we need to do with the lexical items we assemble on with the lexical items we assemble on the workbench:the workbench: Pronounce the sentencePronounce the sentence Interpret the sentenceInterpret the sentence

We’ve mainly been concentrating on We’ve mainly been concentrating on the pronunciation part (getting the the pronunciation part (getting the words into the order we hear them), words into the order we hear them), but the structure is also assumed to but the structure is also assumed to be the basis for interpreting the be the basis for interpreting the sentence as well.sentence as well.

Our model of grammarOur model of grammar Here is the little picture of our model of Here is the little picture of our model of

grammar. The structure we end up with is used both grammar. The structure we end up with is used both to express the logical relations between to express the logical relations between participants and to pronounce the structure.participants and to pronounce the structure. (And of course it has to be that way, since how a (And of course it has to be that way, since how a

sentence sounds is tied to what it means).sentence sounds is tied to what it means).

Lexicon

Workbench

Merge, Adjoin,Copy/Move

pronounce

interpret

A word about A word about interpretationinterpretation

Who did Pat meet?Who did Pat meet?[[CPCP [ [DPDP who] who]ii T Tkk+C [+C [TPTP Pat meet Pat meet ttkk]]]]Tell me (a person) Tell me (a person) xx such that is such that is Pat met xPat met x is true.is true.

If we need to get to a logical structure If we need to get to a logical structure like like Tell me (a person) x such that Pat met Tell me (a person) x such that Pat met x is truex is true, then it may well be that , then it may well be that this is this is what wh-movement is forwhat wh-movement is for. The trace serves . The trace serves as the as the xx variable, the moved variable, the moved whwh-phrase sets -phrase sets the domain.the domain.

Suppose that moving a Suppose that moving a whwh-phrase (leaving a -phrase (leaving a trace) is necessary for interpretation as a trace) is necessary for interpretation as a whwh-question.-question.

WhWh-movement and -movement and interpretationinterpretation

Who bought what?Who bought what? Tell me a (person) Tell me a (person) xx and tell me a and tell me a (thing) (thing) yy such that such that x bought y x bought y is true.is true.

Who gave what to whom?Who gave what to whom? Tell me a (person) Tell me a (person) xx and tell me a and tell me a (thing) (thing) yy and tell me a (person) and tell me a (person) zz

such that such that x gave y to z x gave y to z is true.is true.

How do we interpret those other How do we interpret those other whwh--words?words?

The The whwh-typology-typology English: English: One One whwh-word -word moves to the front.moves to the front.

What did Bill give to whom?What did Bill give to whom? Japanese:Japanese: No No whwh-words-words move to the front. move to the front.

Taroo-ga dare-ni nani-o ageta no?Taroo-ga dare-ni nani-o ageta no?T-nom who-to what-acc gave QT-nom who-to what-acc gave Q‘What did Taroo give to whom?’‘What did Taroo give to whom?’

Bulgarian:Bulgarian: All All whwh-words -words move to the front.move to the front. Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?what to whom Ivan gavewhat to whom Ivan gave‘What did Ivan give to whom?’‘What did Ivan give to whom?’

French:French: One One whwh-word or no -word or no whwh-words -words move to move to the front.the front. Qui as-tu vu?Qui as-tu vu? Tu as vu Tu as vu qui?qui?Who have-you seenWho have-you seen You have seen whoYou have seen who‘Who did you see?’‘Who did you see?’ ‘Who did you see?’‘Who did you see?’

The The whwh-typology-typology Yet in all of these languages, the Yet in all of these languages, the meaningmeaning of of What did Bill give to whom?What did Bill give to whom? is the same…is the same…

Tell me a (thing) Tell me a (thing) xx and tell me a and tell me a (person) (person) yy

such that Bill gave such that Bill gave xx to to yy.. So, if the ‘tell me an So, if the ‘tell me an xx…such that……such that…xx…’ …’ meaning arises from meaning arises from whwh-movement (and, -movement (and, in fact, we can see the in fact, we can see the whwh-movement in -movement in Bulgarian), it stands to reason that Bulgarian), it stands to reason that even in English and Japanese there is even in English and Japanese there is whwh-movement for each -movement for each whwh-word—we just -word—we just can’t always can’t always hearhear it. it.

¿Qué?¿Qué? WhWh-movement…-movement…that you can’t hear…that you can’t hear…

The next topic (quantifiers) The next topic (quantifiers) will give us pretty good will give us pretty good evidence that there is such a evidence that there is such a thing as “movement you can’t thing as “movement you can’t hear.” Adopting it hear.” Adopting it here here allows for a uniform view of allows for a uniform view of meaning and structure across meaning and structure across languages, even in the face languages, even in the face of the (superficial) of the (superficial) differences in differences in whwh-movement -movement behavior. So, let’s behavior. So, let’s provisionally accept it and provisionally accept it and see where it leads.see where it leads.

Phases againPhases again Remember that what’s supposed to be true of Remember that what’s supposed to be true of phases is when they are “committed,” we phases is when they are “committed,” we have locked in the pronunciation and have locked in the pronunciation and interpretation.interpretation.

But what if we lock in the pronunciation But what if we lock in the pronunciation first, move a little bit more, and then first, move a little bit more, and then lock in the interpretation?lock in the interpretation? [[CPCP what whatii TTkk+C [+C [TPTP Pat t Pat tkk give t give tii to whom ] to whom ]]?]?

Lock in pronunciationLock in pronunciation [[CPCP whom whommm what whatii TTkk+C [+C [TPTP Pat t Pat tkk give give ttii to to ttmm ] ]]?]?

Lock in interpretationLock in interpretation

This will sound like: This will sound like: What did Pat give to What did Pat give to whomwhom??

Phases againPhases again Why would we lock in pronunciation first?Why would we lock in pronunciation first?

[[CPCP what whatii TTkk+C [+C [TPTP Pat t Pat tkk give t give tii to whom ] to whom ]]?]? Lock in pronunciationLock in pronunciation

[[CPCP whom whommm what whatii TTkk+C [+C [TPTP Pat t Pat tkk give give ttii to to ttmm ] ]]?]? Lock in interpretationLock in interpretation

We said before: We said before: Strong featuresStrong features (generally) (generally) require movement because the strong feature require movement because the strong feature must be local to the feature that checks it.must be local to the feature that checks it. Viewed in light of different “timing” for locking in Viewed in light of different “timing” for locking in pronunciation and interpretation, we could now say pronunciation and interpretation, we could now say that strong features need to be checked that strong features need to be checked before before locking in pronunciationlocking in pronunciation. But since the system is . But since the system is lazy, it will wait until after that to check any lazy, it will wait until after that to check any remaining (weak) features.remaining (weak) features.

Benefits and problemsBenefits and problems If we imagine that there can be this type of If we imagine that there can be this type of “covert movement” we gain a strong benefit:“covert movement” we gain a strong benefit: All languages have basically the same structure for All languages have basically the same structure for the purposes of the purposes of interpretationinterpretation. Even if they seem . Even if they seem to differ in terms of what visibly moves.to differ in terms of what visibly moves.

But it raises a number of issues as well:But it raises a number of issues as well: We must assume that once you covertly move We must assume that once you covertly move something, you’ve left the phonological features something, you’ve left the phonological features behind—any further movement will also have to be behind—any further movement will also have to be covert.covert.

We must assume that all We must assume that all whwh-words accumulate in -words accumulate in SpecCP (some covertly) but without losing the SpecCP (some covertly) but without losing the explanation of explanation of whwh-island violations (there is only -island violations (there is only one SpecCP).one SpecCP).

Covert movement seems not to obey islands: Strong Covert movement seems not to obey islands: Strong features can’t see inside committed phases, but features can’t see inside committed phases, but othersothers seem to be able to. Non-strong features seem to be able to. Non-strong features won’t affect the pronunciation, though—it’s ok when won’t affect the pronunciation, though—it’s ok when the pronunciation is locked.the pronunciation is locked.

LF movementLF movement When syntacticians talk about this kind When syntacticians talk about this kind of “covert movement” at parties, they of “covert movement” at parties, they sometimes speak of it as sometimes speak of it as LF movementLF movement..

That is, movement that happens in order That is, movement that happens in order to construct the to construct the logical formlogical form of the of the sentence but doesn’t affect the sentence but doesn’t affect the pronunciation.pronunciation.

We will not really seriously deal with LF We will not really seriously deal with LF movement in this class. We will not draw it movement in this class. We will not draw it in our trees. But it’s worth having heard in our trees. But it’s worth having heard about it.about it.

Wh-phrases binding Wh-phrases binding pronounspronouns

There is an interesting property of the There is an interesting property of the kind of operator-variable formation that kind of operator-variable formation that we can see in we can see in whwh-movement.-movement. Who likes his roommate?Who likes his roommate? Pick the Pick the xx such that such that xx likes likes xx’s roommate.’s roommate. WhoWhoii [ [TPTP ttii likes his likes hisii roommate] roommate]

Notice that it is possible to have a Notice that it is possible to have a pronoun bound by a pronoun bound by a whwh-word.-word. And it And it isis binding, like the binding we spoke binding, like the binding we spoke of wrt Binding Theory. It’s assignment of of wrt Binding Theory. It’s assignment of reference, both to the trace and to reference, both to the trace and to hishis, , matching the reference of matching the reference of whowho..

Weak CrossoverWeak Crossover

But now consider this:But now consider this: Who does his roommate like?Who does his roommate like? Can this mean the same thing as Can this mean the same thing as Whose roommate likes himWhose roommate likes him??

*Who*Whoii does his does hisii roommate like roommate like ttii ? ? How is this different fromHow is this different from

WhoWhoii ttii likes his likes hisii roommate? roommate? [Whose roommate][Whose roommate]ii ttii likes him likes himii ? ?

WCOWCO

*Who*Whoii does his does hisii roommate like roommate like ttii ? ? WhoWhoii ttii likes his likes hisii roommate? roommate?

The difference lies in the fact that the The difference lies in the fact that the whwh-phrase had to -phrase had to cross overcross over the the coindexed pronoun on its way to SpecCP. coindexed pronoun on its way to SpecCP. This appears to be impossible, and we This appears to be impossible, and we can state this as follows:can state this as follows:

Weak Crossover (WCO):Weak Crossover (WCO): A coindexed A coindexed pronoun cannot intervene between an pronoun cannot intervene between an operator and its variable.operator and its variable.

WCOWCO

We can also see this effect with We can also see this effect with whwh--in-situ:in-situ:

Who introduced her advisor to whom?Who introduced her advisor to whom? Who introduced whom to her advisor?Who introduced whom to her advisor?

Which girl told his parents to visit which Which girl told his parents to visit which boy?boy?

Which girl told whose parents to visit him?Which girl told whose parents to visit him?