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The status of complementizers in the left periphery

  • Maria Rita Manzini
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Main Clause Phenomena
This chapter is in the book Main Clause Phenomena

Abstract

In Section 1 we argue that the nominal nature of complementizers in many languages (notably wh-items in Romance) points to the conclusion that this extra embedding layer is nominal (cf. Rosenbaum 1967). In Section 2 we address the question whether the structures they create are more similar to headed relatives (Arsenijević 2009; Kayne 2010, to appear) or to free relatives (Manzini & Savoia 2003, 2005, 2011). In Section 3 we consider some of the empirical reasons that would recommend distinguishing between complementizers and wh-items, including selection, islands and order in the left periphery. We also consider finiteness restrictions (Section 4). In Section 5 we conclude by indicating what this line of research implies for Main Clause Phenomena.

Abstract

In Section 1 we argue that the nominal nature of complementizers in many languages (notably wh-items in Romance) points to the conclusion that this extra embedding layer is nominal (cf. Rosenbaum 1967). In Section 2 we address the question whether the structures they create are more similar to headed relatives (Arsenijević 2009; Kayne 2010, to appear) or to free relatives (Manzini & Savoia 2003, 2005, 2011). In Section 3 we consider some of the empirical reasons that would recommend distinguishing between complementizers and wh-items, including selection, islands and order in the left periphery. We also consider finiteness restrictions (Section 4). In Section 5 we conclude by indicating what this line of research implies for Main Clause Phenomena.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction
  4. Main Clause Phenomena and the privilege of the root 1
  5. PART I. Explaining Main Clause Phenomena: The bigger picture
  6. Augmented structure preservation and the Tensed S Constraint 23
  7. Root transformations & quantificational structure 47
  8. Agreements that occur mainly in the main clause 79
  9. The syntax of MCP 113
  10. Towards an interface definition of root phenomena* 135
  11. Explaining matrix/subordinate domain discrepancies 159
  12. Parenthetical main clauses – or not? 177
  13. PART II. The Phenomena
  14. A. Particles and agreement markers
  15. Topic particle stranding and the structure of CP 205
  16. Splitting up force 229
  17. The syntactic position of Polish by and Main Clause Phenomena 257
  18. B. Complementizers and verb-second
  19. A main clause complementizer 279
  20. The status of complementizers in the left periphery 297
  21. Minimality and embedded V2 in Scandinavian 319
  22. Against a uniform treatment of second position effects as force markers 345
  23. C. Adverbial clauses
  24. The syntax-discourse interface in adverbial clauses 365
  25. Subjunctive mood, epistemic modality and Main Clause Phenomena in the analysis of adverbial clauses 385
  26. On two types of adverbial clauses allowing root-phenomena 405
  27. Index 431
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.190.13man

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction
  4. Main Clause Phenomena and the privilege of the root 1
  5. PART I. Explaining Main Clause Phenomena: The bigger picture
  6. Augmented structure preservation and the Tensed S Constraint 23
  7. Root transformations & quantificational structure 47
  8. Agreements that occur mainly in the main clause 79
  9. The syntax of MCP 113
  10. Towards an interface definition of root phenomena* 135
  11. Explaining matrix/subordinate domain discrepancies 159
  12. Parenthetical main clauses – or not? 177
  13. PART II. The Phenomena
  14. A. Particles and agreement markers
  15. Topic particle stranding and the structure of CP 205
  16. Splitting up force 229
  17. The syntactic position of Polish by and Main Clause Phenomena 257
  18. B. Complementizers and verb-second
  19. A main clause complementizer 279
  20. The status of complementizers in the left periphery 297
  21. Minimality and embedded V2 in Scandinavian 319
  22. Against a uniform treatment of second position effects as force markers 345
  23. C. Adverbial clauses
  24. The syntax-discourse interface in adverbial clauses 365
  25. Subjunctive mood, epistemic modality and Main Clause Phenomena in the analysis of adverbial clauses 385
  26. On two types of adverbial clauses allowing root-phenomena 405
  27. Index 431
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