Week 11a. Week 11a. WhWh-movement-movement

CAS LX 522CAS LX 522Syntax ISyntax I

Reminder: Yes-no Reminder: Yes-no questionsquestions

Recall that we motivated head-Recall that we motivated head-movement a couple of weeks ago in part movement a couple of weeks ago in part by looking at the relation between:by looking at the relation between: Pat will eat a sandwich.Pat will eat a sandwich. Will Pat eat a sandwich?Will Pat eat a sandwich?

The idea was that The idea was that PatPat in both sentences in both sentences is in SpecIP where it belongs, but in is in SpecIP where it belongs, but in yes-no questions the I moves higher, to yes-no questions the I moves higher, to C.C. WillWillii [ [IPIP Pat Pat ttii [eat a sandwich]]? [eat a sandwich]]?

WhWh-questions-questions WhWh-questions are “information-seeking” -questions are “information-seeking”

questions, involving a questions, involving a whwh-word.-word. WhoWho, , whatwhat, , whenwhen, , wherewhere, , whywhy, , HoWHoW, , whichwhich

What will they bake?What will they bake?

Observe that Observe that whatwhat is basically the object is basically the object of 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. Cf also. “echo questions”: Cf also. “echo questions”: I drank WHAT?I drank WHAT?

Also, notice that I has moved to C here Also, notice that I has moved to C here too (like it does in yes-no questions).too (like it does in yes-no questions).

What will they bake?What will they bake? So, we start out So, we start out

with essentially with essentially the structure of the structure of They will bake They will bake whatwhat as shown as shown here.here.

WhatWhat is a DP, is a DP, but it’s a but it’s a whwh-DP, -DP, a [+WH] DP.a [+WH] DP.

What will they bake?What will they bake?

What will they bake?What will they bake? For For whwh--

questions, we questions, we have an have an additional item additional item on our on our workbench, a workbench, a [+Q,+WH] C.[+Q,+WH] C.

Two features it Two features it needs to check: needs to check: [+Q], checked [+Q], checked by moving I to by moving I to C; [+WH] C; [+WH] checked by checked by moving a [+WH] moving a [+WH] DP to SpecCP.DP to SpecCP.

What will they bake?What will they bake?

What will they bake?What will they bake?

A-movement vs.A-movement vs.Operator movementOperator movement

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) Operator Operator movementmovement..

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 (“movement (“A-movementA-movement”) we’ve seen.”) we’ve seen.

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

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

A-movement vs.A-movement vs.Operator movementOperator movement

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

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

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

A-movement A-movement endsends in a Case location. in a Case location. Operator movement Operator movement startsstarts in a Case location. in a Case location.

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

I move to C and the I move to C and the whwh-word move to SpecCP:-word move to 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 I not move to C? Does So does I not move to C? Does whowho not move not move to SpecCP?to SpecCP?

Subject Subject whwh-questions-questions Simpler: everything works the same way in Simpler: everything works the same way in

allall whwh-questions.-questions. [+Q] C needs I to move up to it.[+Q] C needs I to move up to it. [+WH] C needs a [+WH] C needs a whwh-element in its specifier.-element in its 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… AlertAlert!! Radford (section 7.7) follows the opposite Radford (section 7.7) follows the opposite

path, supposing that subject path, supposing that subject whwh-questions are -questions are different from object different from object whwh-questions. His is not a -questions. His is not a standard assumption (though it has been standard assumption (though it has been entertained periodically), and his justification entertained periodically), and his justification doesn’t apply to the way we’re viewing doesn’t apply to the way we’re viewing dodo--support.support.

Who left?Who left?

Note that I and V are still adjacent.Note that I and V are still adjacent.

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 I and nothing gets in the way between I and the verb in a subject the verb in a subject whwh-question:-question:

WhoWhoii C+I C+Ijj [ [IPIP tt’’ii ttjj [ [vvPP ttii leave ]]? leave ]]?

WhoWhoii C+I C+Ijj [ [IPIP JohnJohn ttjj [ [vvPP 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 IFor some reason: No IC movement in C movement in embedded clauses (English-specific)… only embedded clauses (English-specific)… only in matrix clauses do you get Iin matrix clauses do you get IC for [+Q] C.C for [+Q] C.

Long-distance Long-distance whwh--movementmovement

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 “sometimes called “long-distance 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[[DPDP the claim [that Mary bought cheese]]. the claim [that Mary bought cheese]].

*What*Whatii does John believe does John believe[[DPDP 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..

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 onI blame this on[[DPDP the breakdown of the breakdown of societysociety]]..

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

*What he was stirring was up trouble*What he was stirring was up trouble has a has a different problem; different problem; what what is being identified with is being identified with up troubleup trouble, which isn’t a constituent. We’ll come , which isn’t a constituent. We’ll come back to verbs with particles like back to verbs with particles like stir upstir up next next week.week.

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.”

IslandsIslands Another thing that seems to “trap” a Another thing that seems to “trap” a whwh-phrase is -phrase is

another 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 John wondered [[who bought who bought a cheeseburger a cheeseburger at BKat BK]]..

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

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

WhWh-islands-islands So a So 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 -movement is 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 must be relatively short with the movement must be relatively short with the observation that observation that whwh-movement can escape -movement can escape any number of clauses?any number of clauses?

Successive cyclicSuccessive cyclicwhwh-movement-movement

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.

What did you hear that they bought?

Successive cyclicSuccessive cyclicwhwh-movement-movement

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.

What did you hear that they bought?

Successive Successive cycliccyclic

whwh-movement-movement The The whwh-phrase -phrase

moves first to moves first to the the intermediate intermediate SpecCP.SpecCP.

What did you hear that they bought?

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.

What did you hear that they bought?

Successive-Successive-cyclic 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.

What did you hear that they bought?

Successive-Successive-cyclic 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.

What did you hear that they bought?

To recapTo recap What did you hear that they bought?What did you hear that they bought?

CC[+Q][+Q] you I hear [that they bought what] you I hear [that they bought what]

CC[+Q][+Q] you I hear [what you I hear [whatii that they bought that they bought ttii]]

whatwhatii C C[+Q][+Q]+I+Ijj you you ttjj hear [ hear [ttii’ that they ’ that they bought bought ttii]]

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

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

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?

WhWh--islandsislands

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

what they what they bought.bought.

And try to And try to question the question the subject.subject.

WhWh--islandsislands

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

what they what they bought.bought.

And try to And try to question the question the subject.subject.

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

SubjacencySubjacency. . Operator Operator movement movement cannot cross cannot cross more than more than one one bounding bounding nodenode..

IPIP 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*Whatii did Mary believe did Mary believe[[DPDP the claim that John bought the claim that John bought ttii ]]??

CNP?CNP?

DP is also a DP is also a bounding bounding

node.node.