Episode 13a. Episode 13a. whwh-movement-movement

(9.4-9.6)(9.4-9.6)

CAS LX 522CAS LX 522Syntax ISyntax I

Post-turkey recapPost-turkey recap

We’ve begun to look at We’ve begun to look at whwh-questions such as-questions such asWhat did they bakeWhat did they bake?? 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] -words are differentiated by having a [wh]

feature.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:T moves to C:

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 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.

What did they bake?What did they bake? The TP is built up The TP is built up

as usual.as usual. The Theme DP The Theme DP whatwhat

is Merged with V.is Merged with V. vv is Merged with VP is Merged with VP

(HoP).(HoP). V moves to V moves to vv

(checking the [(checking the [uuV*V*] ] feature of feature of vv))

The Agent DP The Agent DP theythey is Merged into is Merged into SpecSpecvvP.P.

T is Merged with T is Merged with vvP P (HoP).(HoP).

T values the [T values the [uuInfl:Infl:] ] feature of feature of vv as as [[uuInfl:Infl:past].past].

TheyThey moves to moves to SpecTP (checking SpecTP (checking the [the [uuD*D*] feature of ] feature of T).T).

VP

v

T

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vbake

TP

DPthey

C[Q,uwh*]

T[past,

uclause-type:]

<V>

<DP>

vP

DPwhat[wh]

What did they bake?What did they bake? C is Merged C is Merged

with TP (HoP).with TP (HoP). The [Q] The [Q]

feature of C feature of C values the values the [[uuclause-clause-type:type:] feature ] feature of T as strong.of T as strong.

T moves to C T moves to C to check the to check the strong strong [[uuclause-clause-type:Q*type:Q*] ] feature.feature.

VP

v

T

TP

C

DPthey

C[Q,uwh*]

T[past,

uclause-type:Q*]

<V>

<DP>

vP

DPwhat[wh]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vbake

What did they bake?What did they bake? WhatWhat moves moves

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

VP

v

T

TP

C

DPthey

C[Q,uwh*] <T>

<V> <DP>

<DP>

vP

CP

DPwhat[wh] C

T[past,

[uclause-type:Q*]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vbake

What did they bake?What did they bake? WhatWhat moves moves

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

VP

v

T

TP

C

DPthey

C[Q,uwh*] <T>

<V> <DP>

<DP>

vP

CP

DPwhat[wh] C

T[past,

[uclause-type:Q*]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vbake

Tense is pronounced as did on T by PTR (p. 192): v is not the head of T’s sister, so tense is not pronounced on the verb.

Subject Subject whwh-questions-questions

This works nicely for all kinds of This works nicely for all kinds of whwh--questions.questions. What did Toby sign?What did Toby sign? How did Toby sign the press release?How did Toby sign the press release? Why did Toby sign the press release?Why did Toby sign the press release? When did Toby sign the press release?When did Toby sign the press release? Where did Toby sign the press release?Where did Toby sign the press release?

But But subject wh-questionssubject wh-questions pose pose something of a puzzle:something of a puzzle: Who signed the press release?Who signed the press release?

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

If this is the If this is the structure, structure, what is the what is the problem?problem?

VP

v

T

TP

C

<DP>C[Q,uwh*] <T>

<V> DPthe pressrelease

<DP>

vP

CP

DPwho[wh] C

T[past,

[uclause-type:Q*]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vsign

Two ways to goTwo ways to go

There is a decision to make here as we There is a decision to make here as we move our analysis forward to handle move our analysis forward to handle Who Who signed the press release?signed the press release?.. Option one:Option one: All All whwh-questions work the same -questions work the same

way. In main clauses, T moves to C, the way. In main clauses, T moves to C, the whwh--word moves to SpecCP. Nice, tidy, elegant. But word moves to SpecCP. Nice, tidy, elegant. But we need to re-evaluate PTR and we need to re-evaluate PTR and dodo-support.-support.

Option two:Option two: Subject Subject whwh-questions are -questions are different. PTR works the same way everywhere, different. PTR works the same way everywhere, T moves to C in most T moves to C in most whwh-questions, but in -questions, but in subject subject whwh-questions-questions, T stays where it is., T stays where it is.

Option twoOption two We’ll pursue option two. T doesn’t move in We’ll pursue option two. T doesn’t move in

subject subject whwh-questions. How might that work?-questions. How might that work? Why does T move to C in other questions?Why does T move to C in other questions?

[[uuclause-type:clause-type:] on T is strong when valued as ] on T is strong when valued as [[uuclause-type:Q*clause-type:Q*].].

Adger’s proposal:Adger’s proposal:[[uuclause-type:clause-type:] can be valued as [wh].] can be valued as [wh]. Ancillary assumptionAncillary assumption

[[uuclause-type:clause-type:] can only be valued “from ] can only be valued “from above” (the only above” (the only whwh-word that can value -word that can value [[uuclause-type:clause-type:] on T is one that c-commands T, ] on T is one that c-commands T, a subject a subject whwh-word).-word).

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

Merging up Merging up to Tto T……

VP

v

T

C[Q,uwh*]

<V> DPthe pressrelease

vP

DPwho[wh]

T[past,

[uclause-type:]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vsign

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

Move Move whowho to to SpecTP (EPP).SpecTP (EPP).

Now [wh] c-Now [wh] c-commands commands [[uuclause-type:clause-type:] ] and can value and can value it.it.

VP

v

T

TP

C[Q,uwh*]

<V> DPthe pressrelease

<DP>

vP

DPwho[wh] T

[past,[uclause-type:wh]

v

v[uInfl:past]

Vsign

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

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

Multiple Multiple whwh-questions-questions

Although less common, it is possible to ask a Although less common, it is possible to ask a question with more than one question with more than one whwh-word:-word: (What I want to know is:)(What I want to know is:)

What will Dan give to whom?What will Dan give to whom? Casey knows who moved where.Casey knows who moved where.

Notice what happens:Notice what happens: [[TP TP Dan will [Dan will [vvP P <Dan><Dan> vv+give [+give [VP VP what what <give><give> [ [PP PP to to

whom]]whom]]

[[CP CP what C+will [what C+will [TPTP Dan Dan <will><will>[[vvP P <Dan><Dan> vv+give [+give [VP VP <what><what> <give><give> [ [PP PP to to

whom]]whom]]

Wh-in-situWh-in-situ

In English In English whwh-questions, a -questions, a whwh-word moves up to -word moves up to SpecCP. But if there are SpecCP. But if there are twotwo, then only one , then only one moves, the other stays behind, “in its natural moves, the other stays behind, “in its natural place.”place.”

Does our system so far predict this?Does our system so far predict this? In In whwh-questions, C has a [Q] feature and a [-questions, C has a [Q] feature and a [uuwh*wh*] ]

feature.feature. When the [When the [uuclause-type:clause-type:] feature of T is valued by Q ] feature of T is valued by Q

the resulting [the resulting [uuclause-type:Q*clause-type:Q*] feature on T is strong.] feature on T is strong.

Sort of…Sort of…

*What did who give to *What did who give to Casey?Casey?

It turns out that when you have two options inIt turns out that when you have two options inprinciple, only one is actually grammatical:principle, only one is actually grammatical: Who gave what to Casey?Who gave what to Casey? *What did who give to Casey?*What did who give to Casey?

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

[[CP CP who C [who C [TP TP <who><who> T [ T [vvP P <who> <who> vv+give [+give [VPVP what what <give> <give> ……

[[CP CP what C+T [what C+T [TP TP who who <T><T> [ [vvP P <who> <who> vv+give [+give [VPVP <what> <what> <give><give>

*What did who give to *What did who give to Casey?Casey?

SuperioritySuperiorityThe highest The highest whwh-word moves.-word moves.(All things being equal, the shorter move is (All things being equal, the shorter move is preferred)preferred) Compare:Compare: A book was given <a book> to Pete.A book was given <a book> to Pete. *Pete was given a book to <Pete>.*Pete was given a book to <Pete>.

[[CP CP who C [who C [TP TP <who><who> T [ T [vvP P <who> <who> vv+give [+give [VPVP what what <give> <give> ……

[[CP CP what C+T [what C+T [TP TP who who <T><T> [ [vvP P <who> <who> vv+give [+give [VPVP <what> <what> <give><give>

D-linkingD-linking Just a note:Just a note:

Sometimes Superiority appears to be violated.Sometimes Superiority appears to be violated.

I have a list of the authors here, and a list of I have a list of the authors here, and a list of the books. But I don’t know…the books. But I don’t know…which book which author wrote.which book which author wrote.

When this happens, the interpretation is When this happens, the interpretation is somewhat special. somewhat special. The The whwh-word that is -word that is “skipped” (and generally both of them) is “skipped” (and generally both of them) is picking out one of a small, known list. picking out one of a small, known list. D(iscourse)-linking.D(iscourse)-linking.

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 qui?Tu as vu 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?’

Wh-in-situWh-in-situ languages languages

How might we account for the difference How might we account for the difference between English and Japanese (Korean, Turkish, between English and Japanese (Korean, Turkish, Chinese, …) with respect to moving Chinese, …) with respect to moving whwh-words?-words?

Why does one Why does one whwh-word move in English?-word move in English?

We account for the difference betweenWe account for the difference betweenFrench French ((vv moves to T) moves to T) and and English English ((vv does not move does not move to T) to T) in terms of whether the [in terms of whether the [uuInfl:Infl:] feature on ] feature on vv is is strongstrong (French) or (French) or weakweak (English) when valued by T.(English) when valued by T.

Kakvo na kogo Ivan Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?dade?

How about languages like Bulgarian, where all How about languages like Bulgarian, where all of the of the whwh-words move?-words move?

[[CPCP kakvo na kogo kakvo na kogo[[TPTP Ivan dade Ivan dade <kakvo> <na kogo><kakvo> <na kogo>]]

This one is somewhat trickier… but interesting.This one is somewhat trickier… but interesting. Why do Why do whwh-words have to move (in general)?-words have to move (in general)? Why is it sufficient to move just one (in English)?Why is it sufficient to move just one (in English)? What might we propose in order to ensure that any What might we propose in order to ensure that any

whwh-word has to move?-word has to move?

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Multiple Multiple whwh-movement-movement

To account for this stretches our To account for this stretches our system in several ways, but system in several ways, but ultimately we want to be able to say ultimately we want to be able to say that Bulgarian and English differ that Bulgarian and English differ minimally, so we’ll need to account minimally, so we’ll need to account for Bulgarian too.for Bulgarian too.

Suppose that Suppose that whwh-words in Bulgarian -words in Bulgarian have the strong feature: [have the strong feature: [uuQ*Q*].].

Kakvo na kogo Ivan Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?dade?

For this to work, we For this to work, we need to suppose that it need to suppose that it is possible for a strong is possible for a strong feature like [feature like [uuQ*Q*] on a ] on a whwh-word to “wait” if -word to “wait” if there is no way to be there is no way to be checked yet.checked yet. That is, we can proceed That is, we can proceed

on to on to vvP (by HoP), P (by HoP), despite the fact that despite the fact that there are strong there are strong features left inside VP features left inside VP (but not (but not onon VP). VP).

V

Vdade

PPna kogo [uQ*]

VP

DPkakvo[uQ*]

Kakvo na kogo Ivan Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?dade?

Otherwise, things Otherwise, things proceed just as in proceed just as in English…English…

V

<V> PPna kogo [uQ*]

VP

DPkakvo[uQ*]

v

v+Vdade

vP

DPIvan

Kakvo na kogo Ivan Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?dade?

Otherwise, things Otherwise, things proceed just as in proceed just as in English…English…

V

<V> PPna kogo [uQ*]

VP

DPkakvo[uQ*]

v

v+Vdade

vP

<DP>

T

T[past]

TP

DPIvan

Kakvo na kogo Ivan Kakvo na kogo Ivan dade?dade?

When we get to When we get to C, the C, the whwh-words -words finally have a finally have a way to be way to be checked.checked.

We’ve got two We’ve got two choices.choices. Na kogoNa kogo has been has been

waiting longer.waiting longer. Moving Moving kakvokakvo

would result in a would result in a shorter move.shorter move.

V

<V> PPna kogo [uQ*]

VP

DPkakvo[uQ*]

v

v+Vdade

vP

<DP>

T

T[past]

TP

DPIvan

C

C[Q]

Kakvo na Kakvo na kogo kogo Ivan Ivan

dade?dade?

Given what we Given what we see in see in Bulgarian, it Bulgarian, it seems that seems that “seniority” is “seniority” is more important more important than “making than “making the shortest the shortest move.”move.” Recall that the Recall that the

Superiority Superiority effect in effect in English comes English comes from a need to from a need to “make the “make the shortest move,” shortest move,” but in English, but in English, there’s no there’s no consideration consideration of “seniority.”of “seniority.”

V

<V> <PP>

VP

DPkakvo[uQ*]

v

v+Vdade

vP

<DP>

T

T[past]

TP

DPIvan

C

C[Q]

C

PPna kogo

[uQ*]

Kakvo na Kakvo na kogo kogo Ivan Ivan

dade?dade?

Et voilà.Et voilà.

Interesting:Interesting:Point to the Point to the specifier of specifier of CP.CP. V

<V> <PP>

VP

<DP>

v

v+Vdade

vP

<DP>

T

T[past]

TP

DPIvan

C

C[Q]

C

PPna kogo

[uQ*]

CP

DPkakvo[uQ*]

Cross-linguistic variationCross-linguistic variation

By now, we’ve accumulated a (relatively small, all By now, we’ve accumulated a (relatively small, all things considered) set of parameters on which things considered) set of parameters on which languages can vary, in terms of whether languages can vary, in terms of whether uninterpretable features are strong or weak.uninterpretable features are strong or weak.

Tense on Aux:Tense on Aux: Strong Strong (aux moves to T): English, French, German, Irish(aux moves to T): English, French, German, Irish WeakWeak (aux doesn’t move to T): Swedish(aux doesn’t move to T): Swedish

Tense on Tense on vv:: StrongStrong ((vv moves to T): French, German, Irish moves to T): French, German, Irish Weak Weak ((vv doesn’t move to T): English, Swedish doesn’t move to T): English, Swedish

EPP on T:EPP on T: StrongStrong (subject moves to SpecTP): E, F, S, G(subject moves to SpecTP): E, F, S, G WeakWeak: Irish: Irish

Cross-linguistic variationCross-linguistic variation

To this we can add the parameters of To this we can add the parameters of whwh--movement…movement…

[wh] on [Q]-type C:[wh] on [Q]-type C: Strong Strong (A (A whwh-word moves to SpecCP): English, -word moves to SpecCP): English,

German, …German, … Weak Weak (No (No whwh-word need move to SpecCP): Japanese, …-word need move to SpecCP): Japanese, … Optional Optional (either is possible): French(either is possible): French

[Q] on [Q] on whwh-words:-words: StrongStrong (All (All whwh-words move to SpecCP): Bulgarian, …-words move to SpecCP): Bulgarian, … Weak Weak ((WhWh-words need not move to SpecCP): English, …-words need not move to SpecCP): English, …

Long-distance Long-distance relationshipsrelationships

Next time:Next time:WhWh-words can move pretty far:-words can move pretty far: Who did Jason thinkWho did Jason think

[[CP CP (that) Medea had poisoned __ ](that) Medea had poisoned __ ]

Cf.Cf.Jason seems [Jason seems [<J><J> to be likely [ to be likely [<J><J> to leave]] to leave]]

But there are limits:But there are limits: *What did Moe blame the breakdown of for the rise *What did Moe blame the breakdown of for the rise

in crime?in crime? Last major topic this semester:Last major topic this semester:

Locality restrictions on movementLocality restrictions on movement