Phase Theory (Linguistik Aktuell Linguistics Today)

385 Pages·2010·1.83 MB·English

by  Angel J. Gallego

Phase Theory
Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today (LA)
Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today (LA) provides a platform for original monograph
studies into synchronic and diachronic linguistics. Studies in LA confront empirical
and theoretical problems as these are currently discussed in syntax, semantics,
morphology, phonology, and systematic pragmatics with the aim to establish robust
empirical generalizations within a universalistic perspective.
General Editors
Werner Abraham Elly van Gelderen
University of Vienna / Arizona State University
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Advisory Editorial Board
Josef Bayer Christer Platzack
University of Konstanz University of Lund
Cedric Boeckx Ian Roberts
ICREA/Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Cambridge University
Guglielmo Cinque Lisa deMena Travis
University of Venice McGill University
Liliane Haegeman Sten Vikner
University of Ghent University of Aarhus
Hubert Haider C. Jan-Wouter Zwart
University of Salzburg University of Groningen
Terje Lohndal
University of Maryland
Volume 152
Phase Theory
by Ángel J. Gallego
Phase Theory
Ángel J. Gallego
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Amsterdam / Philadelphia
TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
8
American National Standard for Information Sciences – Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48-1984.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gallego, Ángel J.
Phase theory / Ángel J. Gallego.
p. cm. (Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today, issn 0166-0829 ; v. 152)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Minimalist theory (Linguistics) 2. Generative grammar. 3. Grammar, Comparative and
general--Syntax. I. Title.
P158.28.G35 2010
415--dc22 2009051899
isbn 978 90 272 5535 8 (Hb ; alk. paper)
isbn 978 90 272 8837 0 (Eb)
© 2010 – John Benjamins B.V.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, or any
other means, without written permission from the publisher.
John Benjamins Publishing Co. · P.O. Box 36224 · 1020 me Amsterdam · The Netherlands
John Benjamins North America · P.O. Box 27519 · Philadelphia pa 19118-0519 · usa
Para Sandra,
que da sentido a mi vida

Table of contents
Preface i x
Introduction x i
chapter 1
The framework: Operations and cyclic architecture 1
1. Design factors and the strong minimalist thesis 1
2. Computational operations 6
2.1 Merge 8
2.1.1 From X-bar theory to bare phrase structure 8
2.1.2 Label-free bare phrase structure 1 4
2.1.3 Adjuncts and pair merge 2 1
2.2 Agree 2 9
3. Locality and the concept of cycle 3 9
chapter 2
Phase Theory and Phase Sliding 5 1
1. Introduction 5 1
2. Phase theory: Foundations and extensions 5 3
2.1 Defining phases: Computational efficiency or interface motivations 5 4
2.2 Phases, phase heads, and features 6 0
2.3 On uF-inheritance 6 6
2.4 Problems for phases 7 0
3. The nature of Case: Consequences for merge and clause structure 7 8
3.1 Case as tense/aspect 7 8
3.2 Feature sharing and merge 8 5
3.3 T-to-C movement 9 0
4. Verb movement and Phase Sliding 9 9
4.1 Head movement in the framework of phases:
Head movement and minimality 9 9
4.2 Phase Sliding 104
5. Some consequences of Phase Sliding 112
5.1 Obligatory inversion 113
5.2 Uriagereka’s (1999b) analysis of preverbal subjects 121
6. Den Dikken’s (2006; 2007) Phase Extension 133
7. Conclusions 140
 Phase Theory
chapter 3
Microvariation in null subject languages 143
1. Introduction 143
2. Uriagereka’s (1988a; 1995a; 1995b) F and parametric variation 144
3. C-T and subjunctive dependents 163
def
3.1 On defectiveness 165
3.2 T in romance 169
def
3.3 Raising over experiencer and Spanish ParEcEr 174
3.3.1 Boeckx’s (1999a; 2000a) and Torrego’s (2002) accounts 175
3.3.2 A new analysis 180
3.4 Ausín’s (2001) analysis: ParEcEr as a modal 185
3.5 Subjunctive as ECM 190
4. Remarks on SPEC-v*-T and preverbal subjects 208
S
5. Object shift in Romance 217
5.1 VOS in NSLs 222
5.2 A multiple agree analysis for VOS? 238
5.3 VSO in NSLs 240
6. The EPP : [person] checking and doubling 247
2
7. Conclusions 250
chapter 4
Phases and islands 253
1. Introduction 253
2. Locality revisited: Cycles, barriers, and phases 256
3. Subextraction from SPEC-v* 263
3.1 The subject condition 263
3.2 Kuno’s (1973) Incomplete Constituent Effects 275
3.3 Subextraction from shifted and agreeing objects 277
4. CP dependents 286
5. Prepositions and Phase Sliding 290
6. Subextraction from SPEC-C 300
6.1 Uriagereka’s (2004) analysis 304
6.2 Subextraction or aboutness base generation? 310
6.3 A-bar systems and the minimal link condition 315
6.4 Criterial freezing under the principle of full interpretation 320
7. The Subject condition: A reply to Fortuny (2008) 324
8. Conclusions 332
chapter 5
Beyond phases 335
References 341
Language index 361
Subject index 363
Preface
This book is the result of investigations on different aspects of Chomsky’s framework of
phases. Earlier versions of the core ideas that can be found in the following pages were
developed in the different centers where I studied or made predoctoral stays: the Instituto
Universitario de Investigación Ortega y Gasset, the University of Maryland at College
Park, the Laboratoire sur la langue et les textes basques (Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique), and, most importantly, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Many people should be thanked for their help in the completion of this book. First
and foremost, I must thank my teachers, José M. Brucart and Juan Uriagereka, whose
influence on me has been crucial, and their support constant. For discussion and de-
tailed comments on previous versions of this monograph I would also like to thank
Cedric Boeckx, Ricardo Etxepare, M. Lluïsa Hernanz, Jaume Solà, and Xavier Villalba.
I also thank all my colleagues at the Centre de Lingüística Teòrica, and the Departa-
ments of Filologia Catalana and Filologia Espanyola at UAB.
I have benefited immensely from discussions with Ignacio Bosque, Anna
Cardinaletti, Violeta Demonte, Luis Eguren, Olga Fernández-Soriano, Raquel
González, Norbert Hornstein, Aritz Irurtzun, Richard Kayne, Terje Lohndal, Andrea
Moro, Javier Ormazabal, Paco Ordóñez, Marc Richards, Luigi Rizzi, Ian Roberts, and
Myriam Uribe-Etxebarria. Very especially, I would like to express my gratitude to
Noam Chomsky, M. Teresa Espinal, Jaume Mateu, Carme Picallo, Gemma Rigau, and
Esther Torrego, whose help and support have been crucial not only for the writing of
this piece, but also for my development as a linguist.
I am also thankful to John Benjamins editors Werner Abraham, Elly van Gelderen,
and Kees Vaes, for their interest in publishing this material, their detailed comments on
previous manuscript versions, and their patience. I must also mention Jon MacDonald
and Carlos de Cuba, who helped me polish up the English of the final manuscript.
Finally, I want to thank Sandra, my wife. She deserves more than anyone, but happily
I have the rest of my life to show her how important she is to me and how much I love her.