Week 9. Week 9. WhWh-movement-movement

CAS LX 522CAS LX 522Syntax ISyntax I

ReminderReminder

They will bake a They will bake a cakecake..

BakeBake has two theta has two theta roles, the agent roles, the agent (baker, (baker, theythey) and ) and the theme (baked, the theme (baked, a cakea cake).).

These need to be These need to be assigned in the VP.assigned in the VP.

ReminderReminder

They will bake a They will bake a cake.cake.

T has T has future/modal future/modal willwill in it. in it.

It’s a statement, It’s a statement, so C is [-Q].so C is [-Q].

ReminderReminder

DS: OkDS: Ok Now, some Now, some

things to fix:things to fix:

DPs need Case.DPs need Case. TP needs a TP needs a

Spec (EPP).Spec (EPP).

ReminderReminder

Object can get Object can get accusative Case accusative Case from from bakebake.. Bake is transitive.Bake is transitive. Bake governs the Bake governs the

DP DP a cakea cake..

Subject needs to Subject needs to move to satisfy the move to satisfy the EPP.EPP.

RemindReminderer

Subject moves to Subject moves to SpecTP.SpecTP.

EPP is satisfied.EPP is satisfied. Subject can get Subject can get

nominative Case nominative Case from (finite) T.from (finite) T.

SS: Ok.SS: Ok.

Y/N Q?Y/N Q? What if it had been What if it had been

Will they bake a Will they bake a cake?cake???

Everything would have Everything would have been the same, except been the same, except that (since it is a that (since it is a question), C would question), C would have been [+Q] (since have been [+Q] (since the beginning, in DS the beginning, in DS too)too)

And, there would be And, there would be another thing still to another thing still to fix: [+Q] C needs a T.fix: [+Q] C needs a T.

Y/N Q?Y/N Q? So, T moves So, T moves

to C.to C.

[+Q] feature [+Q] feature of C is “taken of C is “taken care of”.care of”.

SS: Ok.SS: Ok.

WhWh-questions-questions WhWh-questions are information-seeking -questions are information-seeking

questions (vs. yes/no questions), involving a questions (vs. yes/no questions), involving a whwh-word.-word. Who, what, when, where, why, HoW, whichWho, what, when, where, why, HoW, which

What will they bake?What will they bake?

Observe that Observe that whatwhat is basically the object of is basically the object of bakebake. And look how far away it is from . And look how far away it is from bakebake, the thing that assigns it a , the thing that assigns it a -role.-role.

What has John baked?What has John baked?

WhWh-questions-questions WhWh-questions -questions

are questions, are questions, but with an but with an extra [+WH] extra [+WH] feature in C.feature in C.

A [+WH] A [+WH] feature on C feature on C works kind of works kind of like the EPP: like the EPP: C C needs a [+wh] needs a [+wh] element in its element in its specifier.specifier.

2 things to 2 things to solve:solve: [+Q] C needs T[+Q] C needs T [+WH] C needs [+WH] C needs

a [+wh] spec.a [+wh] spec.

WhWh-questions-questions 1 thing to 1 thing to

solve:solve: √√[+Q] C [+Q] C

needs Tneeds T [+WH] C [+WH] C

needs a [+wh] needs a [+wh] spec.spec.

WhWh--movement movement of of whatwhat to to SpecCP will SpecCP will solve the solve the problem.problem.

WhWh-questions-questions

A-movement vs. AA-movement vs. A--movementmovement

WhWh-movement of a DP into SpecCP is -movement of a DP into SpecCP is sometimes called (a kind of) sometimes called (a kind of) AA-movement-movement..

Although it is movement of a DP, this isn’t Although it is movement of a DP, this isn’t the same kind of movement as the other DP-the same kind of movement as the other DP-movement (“A-movement”) we’ve seen.movement (“A-movement”) we’ve seen.

A-movementA-movement: Movement to SpecTP : Movement to SpecTP (subjects, passive objects, unaccusatives, (subjects, passive objects, unaccusatives, subject raising).subject raising).

AA-movement-movement: Movement to SpecCP and : Movement to SpecCP and other things we’ll talk about later.other things we’ll talk about later. ““A” is for “Argument”—good enough for me.A” is for “Argument”—good enough for me.

A-movement vs. AA-movement vs. A--movementmovement

Case: Case: Whom Whom is the accusative case version is the accusative case version of of whowho, although it’s not in common use , although it’s not in common use colloquially.colloquially. Whom did you meet?Whom did you meet?

So: So: WhoWho//whomwhom//whatwhat, etc. are DPs, they’re , etc. are DPs, they’re just special DPs, [+wh] DPs. And DPs need just special DPs, [+wh] DPs. And DPs need (and, in the case of (and, in the case of whowho//whomwhom, show) case., show) case.

Objects generally get case from V. So, we Objects generally get case from V. So, we move object move object whwh-words -words awayaway from their Case from their Case location.location.

A- vs. A’-movementA- vs. A’-movement A-movement A-movement endsends in a Case location. in a Case location. A’-movement A’-movement startsstarts in a Case location. in a Case location.

So, consider:So, consider: What was broken?What was broken?

Passive—Passive—whatwhat can’t get Case in its DS can’t get Case in its DS position (sister of V).position (sister of V).

What needs to get Case, standard procedure What needs to get Case, standard procedure in passives is DP-movement (A-movement) to in passives is DP-movement (A-movement) to SpecTP.SpecTP.

Then, Then, whatwhat needs to get to SpecCP. needs to get to SpecCP.

Aside: tense and aspectAside: tense and aspect

In order to bring our view of participles In order to bring our view of participles more in line with our view of tense, let’s more in line with our view of tense, let’s complicate our view of auxiliary+participle complicate our view of auxiliary+participle constructions a bit.constructions a bit.

Tense: Time with respect to a reference time Tense: Time with respect to a reference time (in simple sentences, generally the utterance (in simple sentences, generally the utterance time).time). Past: John left. (before now)Past: John left. (before now) Present: John knows French. (now)Present: John knows French. (now) Future: John will eat caviar. (after now)Future: John will eat caviar. (after now)

Aside: tense and aspectAside: tense and aspect Aspect: The relation between the time Aspect: The relation between the time

Tense points to and the event.Tense points to and the event. Perfective: John had written the letterPerfective: John had written the letter

(before now, already done—have+-en)(before now, already done—have+-en) Progressive: John was writing the letterProgressive: John was writing the letter

(before now, ongoing—be+-ing)(before now, ongoing—be+-ing) Passive: The letter was writtenPassive: The letter was written

(before now, passive—be+-en).(before now, passive—be+-en).

So, let’s treat Aspect So, let’s treat Aspect likelike Tense—an affix Tense—an affix that heads its own projection.that heads its own projection.

Aside: tense and aspectAside: tense and aspect

Where is AspP?Where is AspP? John has been running.John has been running.

We can think of this as:We can think of this as: John [past] have -en be -ing runJohn [past] have -en be -ing run

Where Where havehave moves to T, pronounced moves to T, pronounced with T as with T as hashas, , bebe is pronounced with is pronounced with --enen as as beenbeen, and , and -ing-ing is pronounced is pronounced with with runrun..

So, there’s an AspP above each VP…So, there’s an AspP above each VP…

Tense and Tense and aspectaspect

They are writing They are writing the letter.the letter.

A little evidence?A little evidence?

Consider this:Consider this: John will leave and Mary will John will leave and Mary will leave leave too.too.

Hypothesis: Ellipsis of the second VP Hypothesis: Ellipsis of the second VP is possible where it is identical to the is possible where it is identical to the first.first. John left and Mary will John left and Mary will leave leave too.too. John left and Mary did John left and Mary did leaveleave too. too.

Why is this possible? Why is this possible? LeftLeft and and leaveleave are not the same.are not the same.

J left and M will — too.J left and M will — too.

J will have left and M J will have left and M will too.will too.

What was broken?What was broken? So, back to the problem: We were So, back to the problem: We were

wondering about wondering about whwh-movement in -movement in What What was broken?was broken?

WhatWhat gets the theme gets the theme -role, but -role, but brokenbroken is is passive, so there is no external passive, so there is no external -role and -role and no case assigned to the object.no case assigned to the object.

WhatWhat needs case, and TP needs a specifier, needs case, and TP needs a specifier, so it moves up to SpecTP (A-movement).so it moves up to SpecTP (A-movement).

CP needs a [+wh] specifier, so it moves on CP needs a [+wh] specifier, so it moves on to SpecCP.to SpecCP.

What was broken?What was broken?

What was broken?What was broken?

Subject Subject whwh-questions-questions Object Object whwh-questions are pretty clear—we see -questions are pretty clear—we see

T move to C and the T move to C and the whwh-word move to -word move to SpecCP:SpecCP: What did John buy?What did John buy? What will Mary eat?What will Mary eat?

But subject But subject whwh-questions don’t show -questions don’t show inversion:inversion: Who left?Who left? Who will eat the sandwich?Who will eat the sandwich?

Compare:Compare: John left.John left. John will eat the sandwich.John will eat the sandwich.

So does T not move to C? Does who not move So does T not move to C? Does who not move to SpecCP?to SpecCP?

Subject Subject whwh-questions-questions

A simpler analysis is just to suppose A simpler analysis is just to suppose that everything works the same way in that everything works the same way in allall whwh-questions.-questions. [+Q] C needs T to move up to it.[+Q] C needs T to move up to it. [+WH] C needs a [+WH] C needs a whwh-element in its -element in its

specifier.specifier.

Turns out that this predicts the subject Turns out that this predicts the subject whwh-question pattern just as well…-question pattern just as well…

Who left?Who left?

Who left?Who left?

So, the difference between subject So, the difference between subject and object and object whwh-questions is that -questions is that nothing gets in the way between T nothing gets in the way between T and the verb in a subject and the verb in a subject whwh-question:-question:

WhoWhoii T Tjj … … tt’’ii ttjj … … ttii leave? leave?

WhoWhoii T Tjj JohnJohn ttjj meet meet ttii ? ?

Embedded questionsEmbedded questions Just like with statement CPs, question CPs Just like with statement CPs, question CPs

can be embedded (under certain verbs).can be embedded (under certain verbs). I wonder who left.I wonder who left.

Cf. I heard that John left. Bill said John left.Cf. I heard that John left. Bill said John left. I asked who left.I asked who left. I know who left.I know who left. I know what John will buy.I know what John will buy. I wonder if John will leave.I wonder if John will leave.

Notice, though: It’s not:Notice, though: It’s not: *I know what will John buy.*I know what will John buy.

For some reason: No TFor some reason: No TC movement in C movement in embedded clauses (English-specific)… only embedded clauses (English-specific)… only in matrix clauses do you get Tin matrix clauses do you get TC for [+Q] C for [+Q] C.C.

Long-distance movementLong-distance movement You can ask a question about something in an You can ask a question about something in an

embedded clause too…embedded clause too…

I said [that John ate a sandwich].I said [that John ate a sandwich]. WhatWhatii did I say [that John ate did I say [that John ate ttii]?]? Mary wondered [whatMary wondered [whatii I said [that John ate I said [that John ate ttii]].]].

Note that Note that whatwhat gets its gets its -role from -role from ateate.. Note that the Note that the main clausemain clause C is the question ([+Q, C is the question ([+Q,

+WH])—the +WH])—the embedded clauseembedded clause C here is a [-Q] CP. C here is a [-Q] CP. WhWh-movement the escapes its clause like this is -movement the escapes its clause like this is

sometimes called “long-distance sometimes called “long-distance whwh-movement”.-movement”.

IslandsIslands

There are certain things that seem to “trap” There are certain things that seem to “trap” whwh-elements, though.-elements, though.

WhatWhatii did John claim [that Mary bought did John claim [that Mary bought ttii]?]?

John believesJohn believes[the claim [that Mary bought cheese]].[the claim [that Mary bought cheese]].

*What does John believe*What does John believe[the claim [that Mary bought [the claim [that Mary bought ttii]]?]]? The claim that…The claim that… is a DP. is a DP. WhatWhat starts starts insideinside..

IslandsIslands

Another thing that seems to “trap” a Another thing that seems to “trap” a whwh-phrase -phrase is another is another whwh-question. (Called -question. (Called whwh-islands-islands))

Who bought a cheeseburger at Burger King?Who bought a cheeseburger at Burger King? John wondered [who bought a cheeseburger at John wondered [who bought a cheeseburger at

Burger King].Burger King]. *What*Whatii did John wonder [who bought did John wonder [who bought ttii at BK]? at BK]?

*Who*Whoii did John wonder [what did John wonder [whatjj ttii bought bought ttjj at at BK]?BK]?

CNP IslandsCNP Islands

In general, it is not In general, it is not possible to extract a possible to extract a whwh-phrase out of a -phrase out of a DP, though you can DP, though you can extract out of an extract out of an embedded clause embedded clause that isn’t inside a DP.that isn’t inside a DP.

These are called These are called Complex NP Complex NP islandsislands..

QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video decompressorare needed to see this picture.

You know what I blame You know what I blame this on the breakdown this on the breakdown

of?of? I blame this on [the breakdown of I blame this on [the breakdown of

society].society].

Questioning Questioning societysociety requires requires extraction of a extraction of a whwh-phrase from -phrase from inside a DP (inside a DP (the breakdown of the breakdown of societysociety).).

Bounding nodesBounding nodes

What makes islands different? What What makes islands different? What makes them “opaque” like this?makes them “opaque” like this?

The idea is essentially that (despite The idea is essentially that (despite appearances) appearances) whwh-movement has to -movement has to be over relatively short distances.be over relatively short distances.

Islands block Islands block whwh-movement -movement because they force because they force whwh-movement to -movement to have to go “too far.”have to go “too far.”

WhWh-islands-islands

Recall that a Recall that a whwh-question is an island.-question is an island. *What did John wonder [who bought at BK]?*What did John wonder [who bought at BK]?

But nevertheless, long-distance But nevertheless, long-distance whwh-movement is -movement is possible.possible. WhatWhatii did John say [that Mary bought did John say [that Mary bought ttii at BK]? at BK]?

WhatWhatii did John say [that Mary heard [that Sue said did John say [that Mary heard [that Sue said [that Bill bought [that Bill bought ttii at BK]]]? at BK]]]?

How can we resolve the idea that How can we resolve the idea that whwh-movement -movement must be relatively short with the observation must be relatively short with the observation that that whwh-movement can escape any number of -movement can escape any number of clauses?clauses?

WhWh--islandsislands

Suppose Suppose that when that when a a whwh-word -word moves, it moves, it has to has to move to move to the the closestclosest SpecCP. It SpecCP. It can’t can’t skipskip a a SpecCP.SpecCP.

WhWh-islands-islands The The whwh-phrase -phrase moves first to moves first to the the intermediate intermediate SpecCP.SpecCP.

Successive-cyclic Successive-cyclic movementmovement

Then, the Then, the whwh--phrase moves phrase moves from the from the intermediate intermediate SpecCP to the SpecCP to the main clause main clause SpecCP.SpecCP.

WhWh--islandsislands

Now, suppose Now, suppose we have an we have an embedded embedded whwh-question.-question. You wonder You wonder

who bought a who bought a cheeseburger cheeseburger at BK.at BK.

And try to And try to question the question the object.object.

WhWh--islandsislands

Too far—Too far— WhWh-movement -movement

can’t go past can’t go past the middle CP the middle CP without without “stopping off”“stopping off”

WhWh--islandsislands

Subjacency. Subjacency. A’-movement A’-movement cannot cross cannot cross more than more than one one bounding bounding nodenode..

TPTP is a is a bounding bounding node in node in English.English.

CNP-islandsCNP-islands

We can treat complex NP islands in We can treat complex NP islands in pretty much the same way—what makes pretty much the same way—what makes them ungrammatical is trying to move them ungrammatical is trying to move past more than one bounding node.past more than one bounding node.

*What did Mary believe the claim that *What did Mary believe the claim that John bought?John bought?

Note: the textbook seems to regress to pre-Note: the textbook seems to regress to pre-DP trees in this section. Trust my trees here, DP trees in this section. Trust my trees here, not the book’s trees.not the book’s trees.

CNP?CNP?

DP is also a DP is also a bounding bounding

node.node.

Successive cyclic?Successive cyclic? McCloskey (2000). Quantifier float and McCloskey (2000). Quantifier float and whwh--

movement in an Irish English. movement in an Irish English. Linguistic InquiryLinguistic Inquiry 31(1):57-84.31(1):57-84.

What all did you get for Christmas?What all did you get for Christmas? What did you get all for Christmas?What did you get all for Christmas? All the students have left.All the students have left. The students have all left.The students have all left. I don’t remember [I don’t remember [CPCP what I said all]. what I said all]. What all did he say (that) he wanted?What all did he say (that) he wanted? What did he say (that) he wanted all?What did he say (that) he wanted all? What did he say all (that) he wanted?What did he say all (that) he wanted?