Constraints on relative clause extraposition in English
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Heike Walker
Abstract
In this paper, I present a psycholinguistic experiment on relative clause extraposition in English. In the theoretical literature, it has frequently been claimed that the acceptability of relative clause extraposition decreases when the antecedent NP of the relative clause is definite (the definiteness restriction) and when the main verb of the sentence is not a verb of appearance (the predicate restriction). However, the literature also contains conflicting judgments, suggesting the need to test the acceptability of relative clause extraposition experimentally. Using the method of thermometer judgments (Featherston 2007) to elicit acceptability judgments, I provide evidence that objectively and reliably corroborates the definiteness restriction and the predicate restriction. Additionally, I show that the grammatical function of the antecedent NP has an effect on the acceptability of relative clause extraposition only when verbs other than verbs of appearance are used in the sentence.
Abstract
In this paper, I present a psycholinguistic experiment on relative clause extraposition in English. In the theoretical literature, it has frequently been claimed that the acceptability of relative clause extraposition decreases when the antecedent NP of the relative clause is definite (the definiteness restriction) and when the main verb of the sentence is not a verb of appearance (the predicate restriction). However, the literature also contains conflicting judgments, suggesting the need to test the acceptability of relative clause extraposition experimentally. Using the method of thermometer judgments (Featherston 2007) to elicit acceptability judgments, I provide evidence that objectively and reliably corroborates the definiteness restriction and the predicate restriction. Additionally, I show that the grammatical function of the antecedent NP has an effect on the acceptability of relative clause extraposition only when verbs other than verbs of appearance are used in the sentence.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction by the editors 1
-
Part I. Empirical perspective
- Constraints on intra- and extraposition 63
- Subclausal locality constraints on relative clause extraposition 99
- Constraints on relative clause extraposition in English 145
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Part II. The Minimalist Perspective
- Rightward movement, EPP and specifiers 175
- Neglected cases of rightward movement 211
- Rightward movement from a different perspective 243
- Cumulative rightward processes 281
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Part III. Other Theoretical Perspectives
- A dynamic perspective on left-right asymmetries 321
- On the locality of complement clause and relative clause extraposition 369
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Part IV. The Prosodic Perspective
- Extraposition of defocused and light PPs in English 399
- Prosodic constraints on extraposition in German 439
- Index 473
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction by the editors 1
-
Part I. Empirical perspective
- Constraints on intra- and extraposition 63
- Subclausal locality constraints on relative clause extraposition 99
- Constraints on relative clause extraposition in English 145
-
Part II. The Minimalist Perspective
- Rightward movement, EPP and specifiers 175
- Neglected cases of rightward movement 211
- Rightward movement from a different perspective 243
- Cumulative rightward processes 281
-
Part III. Other Theoretical Perspectives
- A dynamic perspective on left-right asymmetries 321
- On the locality of complement clause and relative clause extraposition 369
-
Part IV. The Prosodic Perspective
- Extraposition of defocused and light PPs in English 399
- Prosodic constraints on extraposition in German 439
- Index 473
