Non-strict negative concord: a correlate of focus movement?
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Pierre Larrivée
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to assess a potential correlate for non-strict negative concord. The pattern, known to be exemplified by Italian, is one by which n-words (such as nothing, nobody, never) concord with the clausal negator when post-verbal, but do not when pre-verbal. The typological survey that we report on focuses on languages where the pattern is compulsory rather than simply possible: with a requirement of post-verbal concord, and a ban of pre-verbal concord. The results are that such patterns are actually exceedingly rare across languages of the world, restricted to Romance and Kartvelian. We propose that the relevant languages are characterised by the possibility of overt Focus movement. The speculation is that such movement acts as a cue for compulsory non-strict negative concord, as both relate to syntactic agreement.
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to assess a potential correlate for non-strict negative concord. The pattern, known to be exemplified by Italian, is one by which n-words (such as nothing, nobody, never) concord with the clausal negator when post-verbal, but do not when pre-verbal. The typological survey that we report on focuses on languages where the pattern is compulsory rather than simply possible: with a requirement of post-verbal concord, and a ban of pre-verbal concord. The results are that such patterns are actually exceedingly rare across languages of the world, restricted to Romance and Kartvelian. We propose that the relevant languages are characterised by the possibility of overt Focus movement. The speculation is that such movement acts as a cue for compulsory non-strict negative concord, as both relate to syntactic agreement.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
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Section 1: General theoretical issues
- Negative concord: the first 133 years 9
- Negindefinites and negative concord: concepts, terms and analyses 53
- Negative concord and TAM: a new perspective 77
- Non-strict negative concord: a correlate of focus movement? 107
- The universal force of (strict) negative concord 123
- N-words: in defence of wide scope. A view from Romanian 149
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Section 2: Perspectives on variation
- Negative concord in Medieval Greek: lexical asymmetry and the role of correlative negation 175
- What does the linear position of negative concord items tell us about their properties? 207
- Grammar or error? Non-compositional (expletive/paratactic) negation in Dutch sentences with zonder ‘without’ 239
- Two negatives in Tyneside English questions: negative concord or double negation? 269
- Less formal and more rebellious — An experiment on the social meaning of negative concord in American English 303
- Subject index 333
- Language index 337
- Name index 341
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Section 1: General theoretical issues
- Negative concord: the first 133 years 9
- Negindefinites and negative concord: concepts, terms and analyses 53
- Negative concord and TAM: a new perspective 77
- Non-strict negative concord: a correlate of focus movement? 107
- The universal force of (strict) negative concord 123
- N-words: in defence of wide scope. A view from Romanian 149
-
Section 2: Perspectives on variation
- Negative concord in Medieval Greek: lexical asymmetry and the role of correlative negation 175
- What does the linear position of negative concord items tell us about their properties? 207
- Grammar or error? Non-compositional (expletive/paratactic) negation in Dutch sentences with zonder ‘without’ 239
- Two negatives in Tyneside English questions: negative concord or double negation? 269
- Less formal and more rebellious — An experiment on the social meaning of negative concord in American English 303
- Subject index 333
- Language index 337
- Name index 341
