Phase Theory and Phase Sliding
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Ángel J. Gallego
Abstract
This chapter reviews the core aspects of Chomsky’s Phase Theory, paying special attention to the notion of phase (the current counterpart of cycles, barriers, and bounding nodes), the different criteria that have been invoked to characterize them, the data that have been used to argue for them, and the arguments that have been used to criticize them. I will pursue a formal definition of phase, where transfer domains emerge as a consequence of ϕ-feature valuation, semantic and phonologic properties (e.g., propositionality, isolability) being thus conceived as consequences, instead of triggers. The second part of the chapter explores the posibility that (some instances of) head movement have an effect on the way syntactic domains are transferred. I refer to this possibility as Phase Sliding, a name intended to cover differen proposals that go back to empirical findings in the eighties. The final part of the chapter is devoted to a consideration of what den Dikken (2007) calls Phase Extension, a device that, though apparently similar to Phase Sliding, is not only different, but also incompatible with Chomsky’s conception of phases.
Abstract
This chapter reviews the core aspects of Chomsky’s Phase Theory, paying special attention to the notion of phase (the current counterpart of cycles, barriers, and bounding nodes), the different criteria that have been invoked to characterize them, the data that have been used to argue for them, and the arguments that have been used to criticize them. I will pursue a formal definition of phase, where transfer domains emerge as a consequence of ϕ-feature valuation, semantic and phonologic properties (e.g., propositionality, isolability) being thus conceived as consequences, instead of triggers. The second part of the chapter explores the posibility that (some instances of) head movement have an effect on the way syntactic domains are transferred. I refer to this possibility as Phase Sliding, a name intended to cover differen proposals that go back to empirical findings in the eighties. The final part of the chapter is devoted to a consideration of what den Dikken (2007) calls Phase Extension, a device that, though apparently similar to Phase Sliding, is not only different, but also incompatible with Chomsky’s conception of phases.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface ix
- Introduction xi
- The framework 1
- Phase Theory and Phase Sliding 51
- Microvariation in null subject languages 143
- Phases and islands 253
- Beyond phases 335
- References 341
- Language index 361
- Subject index 363
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface ix
- Introduction xi
- The framework 1
- Phase Theory and Phase Sliding 51
- Microvariation in null subject languages 143
- Phases and islands 253
- Beyond phases 335
- References 341
- Language index 361
- Subject index 363
