Syntactic and phonological properties of wh-operators and wh-movement in Bavarian
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Josef Bayer
Abstract
Wh-movement is less uniform than suggested by the standard theory of generative grammar. Bavarian provides evidence that word-size wh-operators have syntactic as well as phonological properties of functional heads rather than genuine phrases. At the core of the analysis is the intuition that wh-words embrace the role of the complementizer, and that as a consequence merger of a separate complementizer is suspended. Theoretical reasoning which comes to this conclusion is suggested by judgment as well as production experiments with native speakers of the language. It is argued that from the economy-driven perspective of minimalist syntax, head-style wh-movement, as supported by Bavarian syntax, should actually be the preferred choice.
Abstract
Wh-movement is less uniform than suggested by the standard theory of generative grammar. Bavarian provides evidence that word-size wh-operators have syntactic as well as phonological properties of functional heads rather than genuine phrases. At the core of the analysis is the intuition that wh-words embrace the role of the complementizer, and that as a consequence merger of a separate complementizer is suspended. Theoretical reasoning which comes to this conclusion is suggested by judgment as well as production experiments with native speakers of the language. It is argued that from the economy-driven perspective of minimalist syntax, head-style wh-movement, as supported by Bavarian syntax, should actually be the preferred choice.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Aspects of Bavarian syntax 1
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1. COMP Phenomena
- Syntactic and phonological properties of wh-operators and wh-movement in Bavarian 23
- Complementizer agreement (in Bavarian) 51
- The rise and fall of double agreement 83
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2. Extraction Phenomena
- Structures of ‘emphatic topicalization’ in Bavarian 113
- Gaps and parasitic gaps in Bavarian 145
- Observations on relative clauses in Bavarian 183
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3. Non-clausal Phenomena
- Really weird subjects. The syntax of family names in Bavarian. 203
- Austro-Bavarian directionals 223
- IPP-Constructions in Alemannic and Bavarian in comparison 247
-
4. The Topography of Southern German Dialects
- The Upper German differential 305
- Index 337
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Aspects of Bavarian syntax 1
-
1. COMP Phenomena
- Syntactic and phonological properties of wh-operators and wh-movement in Bavarian 23
- Complementizer agreement (in Bavarian) 51
- The rise and fall of double agreement 83
-
2. Extraction Phenomena
- Structures of ‘emphatic topicalization’ in Bavarian 113
- Gaps and parasitic gaps in Bavarian 145
- Observations on relative clauses in Bavarian 183
-
3. Non-clausal Phenomena
- Really weird subjects. The syntax of family names in Bavarian. 203
- Austro-Bavarian directionals 223
- IPP-Constructions in Alemannic and Bavarian in comparison 247
-
4. The Topography of Southern German Dialects
- The Upper German differential 305
- Index 337
