Local instability : split topicalization and quantifier float in German / Dennis Ott.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Ott, Dennis, 1983-

Series:

Linguistische Arbeiten (Max Niemeyer Verlag) ; 544.

Linguistische Arbeiten, 0344-6727 ; 544

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

German language--Locative constructions.

German language.

German language--Syntax.

German language--Quantifiers.

German language--Grammar.

Minimalist theory (Linguistics).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (184 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; Boston : De Gruyter, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This monograph argues for a novel approach to split topicalization and quantifier float in German, based on the premise that syntactic structure-building proceeds solely via free application of Merge. Following recent developments in the pursuit of a more principled theory of syntax, it is argued that the stipulative notion of 'projection' ought to be dispensed with: syntactic objects created by Merge are not headed, and endocentricity arises due to a simple search algorithm. When this algorithm fails, specifically in symmetric {XP,YP} structures, an unlabeled constituent results; where a label is required, such structures are locally unstable. It is argued that both split topics and floated quantifiers are the result of this kind of local instability: when an exocentric predication structure is merged in argument or adjunct position, XP must be displaced at the phase level to allow for determination of a label. It is this symmetry-breaking movement that yields the 'split constituent' in surface form. Based on careful empirical scrutiny of two recalcitrant problems for syntactic theory, the present work adduces substantial support for a 'minimalist' grammatical architecture devoid of phrase-structural residue.

Contents:

Front matter

0 Acknowledgments

Contents

1 Introduction: Aims and Scope

2 Split Topics: Empirical Properties and Theoretical Problems

3 The Syntax of Split Topics: A Novel Approach

4 An Extension to Quantifer Float

5 Conclusion and Outlook

References

Index

Notes:

Diss, Harvard University 2011.

Originially presented as the author's thesis (doctoral-Harvard University) under the title: Local instability: The Syntax of Split Topics, 2011.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613941183

9781283628730

1283628732

9783110290950

3110290952

OCLC:

815382749