Symmetry in Syntax : Merge, Move and Labels / Barbara Citko.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Citko, Barbara, 1970-

Series:

Cambridge books online.

Cambridge Studies in Linguistics ; no. 129

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Grammar, Comparative and general--Syntax.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

Parallelism (Linguistics).

Generative grammar.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (288 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2011.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

PDF

Summary:

While much has been written on asymmetric aspects of sentence structure, symmetric aspects have been largely ignored, or claimed to be non-existent. Does symmetry in syntax exist, and, if its does; how do we account for it? Barbara Citko sets out to tackle these questions and offers a unified approach to a number of phenomena that have so far been studied only in isolation. Focusing on three core minimalist mechanisms- Merge, Move, and Labeling, she advances a new theory of these mechanisms, by showing that, under certain well-defined circumstances, Merge can create symmetric structures, Move can target either of two potentially moveable objects, and labels can be constructed symmetrically from the features of two objects. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students interested in minimalist syntax, the structure of questions, relative clauses, coordination, double object constructions, and copular sentences. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Rationale 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Symmetry and asymmetry 2

1.3 Theoretical framework 4

1.4 The proposal 9

1.5 Disclaimer: other sources of symmetry? 9

1.6 Organization of the book 14

2 Asymmetry in syntax 17

2.1 Introduction 17

2.2 Antisymmetry Theory 17

2.3 Dynamic Antisymmetry Theory 20

2.4 Asymmetry Theory 23

2.5 Coordination 25

2.6 Double object constructions 29

2.7 Asymmetry in Move 35

2.8 Asymmetry in Labeling 39

3 Symmetry in Merge 43

3.1 Introduction 43

3.2 Symmetric Merge: Parallel Merge 44

3.3 Constraints on symmetric Merge 46

3.4 Feature checking in symmetric Merge structures 47

3.5 Linearization of symmetric Merge structures 50

3.6 Empirical support for symmetric Merge 54

3.6.1 Across-the-board wh-questions 54

3.6.2 Wh-questions with conjoined wh-pronouns 62

3.6.3 Right node raising 68

3.6.4 Gapping 77

3.6.5 Serial verbs 92

3.6.6 Free relatives 94

3.7 Conclusion 107

4 Symmetry in Move 109

4.1 Introduction 109

4.2 Symmetric and asymmetric passives 110

4.3 Polish double object constructions 115

4.4 Polish dative subjects 122

4.5 Interim summary and preview 125

4.6 Locality and symmetric passives 127

4.6.1 Word order variation 127

4.6.2 Movement through applicative phase edge 130

4.6.3 Wh-movement from applicatives 135

4.6.4 Quantifier raising from applicatives 140

4.7 Case and symmetric passives 144

4.7.1 Case absorption 144

4.7.2 Lexical case and passive movement 146

4.7.3 Dative intervention effects 148

4.7.4 Lack of multiple datives 151

4.7.5 Freezing and symmetric passives 154

4.8 Conclusion 161

5 Symmetric labels 163

5.1 Introduction 163

5.2 Arguments for (and against) eliminating labels 164

5.3 Symmetric labels 176

5.4 Serial verb constructions 178

5.5 Small clauses 182

5.6 Comparative correlatives 185

5.7 Wh-movement in correlative clauses 190

5.8 Conclusion 206

6 Conclusion 207.

Notes:

Title from publishers bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Mar 2012).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9780511794278

9781107005556

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.