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Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface

A featural approach to island effects
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Abstract

In this paper we carry out an interface investigation of subject islands in Italian and Spanish, in which subextraction in the form of focus fronting is connected with the type of Focus implemented by the subextracted PP (Corrective vs. Mirative) and the D-properties of the subextraction site. Adopting a featural approach, we claim that subjects are not ‘absolute’ islands and variation is not idiosyncratic: subextraction is possible in the two languages under examination provided specific properties are met in the relevant D-domain and depending on the information-structural properties of the subextracted PP. More precisely, subextraction of a Corrective Focus in Italian is fully accepted from [−spec] DPs, whereas Spanish needs a [−def] feature in the same context. Subextraction to obtain a mirative interpretation, on the other hand, is only (marginally) allowed from [+def, −spec] DPs: this is attributed to the compatibility between D-features and the discourse-semantics properties of a Mirative Focus.

Abstract

In this paper we carry out an interface investigation of subject islands in Italian and Spanish, in which subextraction in the form of focus fronting is connected with the type of Focus implemented by the subextracted PP (Corrective vs. Mirative) and the D-properties of the subextraction site. Adopting a featural approach, we claim that subjects are not ‘absolute’ islands and variation is not idiosyncratic: subextraction is possible in the two languages under examination provided specific properties are met in the relevant D-domain and depending on the information-structural properties of the subextracted PP. More precisely, subextraction of a Corrective Focus in Italian is fully accepted from [−spec] DPs, whereas Spanish needs a [−def] feature in the same context. Subextraction to obtain a mirative interpretation, on the other hand, is only (marginally) allowed from [+def, −spec] DPs: this is attributed to the compatibility between D-features and the discourse-semantics properties of a Mirative Focus.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1. (Morpho)phonology-Syntax Interface
  6. Syntacticizing blends 27
  7. Does the verb raise to T in Spanish? 47
  8. Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese 63
  9. A note on the syntax of possession in Paraguayan Guaraní 85
  10. Section 2. Syntax-Semantics interface
  11. Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish 107
  12. On weak definites and their contribution to event kinds 129
  13. The grammaticalization of ‘big’ situations 151
  14. On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements 173
  15. Section 3. Syntax-Discourse interface
  16. Multiple Wh-Movement in European Spanish 195
  17. Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface 223
  18. On the de se reading in the de se center shift in Korean 255
  19. Section 4. Lexicon-Syntax interface
  20. Spanish participial adjectives and individual-level/stage-level interpretations in nominals 279
  21. Two types of transitive verbs in Spanish 305
  22. Grammatical categories at the Lexicon-Syntax-Semantics interface 325
  23. State and change of state in Latin 343
  24. Index 367
Boundaries, Phases and Interfaces
This chapter is in the book Boundaries, Phases and Interfaces
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.239.11fra

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1. (Morpho)phonology-Syntax Interface
  6. Syntacticizing blends 27
  7. Does the verb raise to T in Spanish? 47
  8. Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese 63
  9. A note on the syntax of possession in Paraguayan Guaraní 85
  10. Section 2. Syntax-Semantics interface
  11. Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish 107
  12. On weak definites and their contribution to event kinds 129
  13. The grammaticalization of ‘big’ situations 151
  14. On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements 173
  15. Section 3. Syntax-Discourse interface
  16. Multiple Wh-Movement in European Spanish 195
  17. Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface 223
  18. On the de se reading in the de se center shift in Korean 255
  19. Section 4. Lexicon-Syntax interface
  20. Spanish participial adjectives and individual-level/stage-level interpretations in nominals 279
  21. Two types of transitive verbs in Spanish 305
  22. Grammatical categories at the Lexicon-Syntax-Semantics interface 325
  23. State and change of state in Latin 343
  24. Index 367
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