Chapter 3. The syntax and information-structural semantics of negative inversion in English and their implications for the theory of focus
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Masatoshi Honda
Abstract
Negative inversion in English (e.g. Never have I seen such a hippopotamus.) has inspired empirical and theoretical interest because it shows complex syntactic and semantic properties. One widely-held cartographic view (e.g. Haegeman (2000, 2012)) has been that negative inversion targets FocP in the CP domain, thereby satisfying the NEG-criterion that requires the fronted NEG operator to be in a Spec-Head configuration with the Foc head occupied by the inverted auxiliary. Focusing on the syntax and information-structural semantics of negative inversion, this study aims to develop the criterial approach in terms of Cruschina’s (2011) split CP model, according to which the Focus projection splits into two: Contrastive Focus (CFoc) and Information Focus (IFoc). On the empirical side, drawing on Leonetti & Escandell-Vidal’s (2009) insights into QP-fronting in Spanish, it is demonstrated that negative inversion displays certain properties related to (non-contrastive) polarity emphasis, which does not contribute to a split between Focus and Presupposition. On the theoretical side, it is argued that the properties relevant to polarity emphasis in negative inversion are attributed to IFoc fronting operations. The proposed analysis, a sophisticated version of the criterial approach proposed in Haegeman (2000, 2012), naturally captures the otherwise-unexplained polarity emphasis effects in negative inversion.
Abstract
Negative inversion in English (e.g. Never have I seen such a hippopotamus.) has inspired empirical and theoretical interest because it shows complex syntactic and semantic properties. One widely-held cartographic view (e.g. Haegeman (2000, 2012)) has been that negative inversion targets FocP in the CP domain, thereby satisfying the NEG-criterion that requires the fronted NEG operator to be in a Spec-Head configuration with the Foc head occupied by the inverted auxiliary. Focusing on the syntax and information-structural semantics of negative inversion, this study aims to develop the criterial approach in terms of Cruschina’s (2011) split CP model, according to which the Focus projection splits into two: Contrastive Focus (CFoc) and Information Focus (IFoc). On the empirical side, drawing on Leonetti & Escandell-Vidal’s (2009) insights into QP-fronting in Spanish, it is demonstrated that negative inversion displays certain properties related to (non-contrastive) polarity emphasis, which does not contribute to a split between Focus and Presupposition. On the theoretical side, it is argued that the properties relevant to polarity emphasis in negative inversion are attributed to IFoc fronting operations. The proposed analysis, a sophisticated version of the criterial approach proposed in Haegeman (2000, 2012), naturally captures the otherwise-unexplained polarity emphasis effects in negative inversion.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Section I. Theoretical and descriptive issues in syntactic cartography
- Chapter 2. Cartography and selection in subjunctives and interrogatives 15
- Chapter 3. The syntax and information-structural semantics of negative inversion in English and their implications for the theory of focus 27
- Chapter 4. Invariant die and adverbial resumption in the Ghent dialect 53
- Chapter 5. Uncovering the left periphery of Etruscan 111
- Chapter 6. Subject drop in how come questions in English 127
- Chapter 7. Causativity alternation in the lower field 139
- Chapter 8. Another argument for the differences among wa -marked phrases 161
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Section II. Theoretical and descriptive issues in syntactic cartography
- Chapter 9. Quantifictional binding without surface c-command in Mandarin Chinese 183
- Chapter 10. Towards a cartography of light verbs 217
- Chapter 11. Attitudinal applicative in action 243
- Chapter 12. Multiple counterparts of Mandarin qu (go) in Teochew and their cartographic distributions 261
- Chapter 13. On the syntactic representation of Chinese you ( 有 ) in “ you + VP” construction 287
- Index 323
- List of contributors 328
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Section I. Theoretical and descriptive issues in syntactic cartography
- Chapter 2. Cartography and selection in subjunctives and interrogatives 15
- Chapter 3. The syntax and information-structural semantics of negative inversion in English and their implications for the theory of focus 27
- Chapter 4. Invariant die and adverbial resumption in the Ghent dialect 53
- Chapter 5. Uncovering the left periphery of Etruscan 111
- Chapter 6. Subject drop in how come questions in English 127
- Chapter 7. Causativity alternation in the lower field 139
- Chapter 8. Another argument for the differences among wa -marked phrases 161
-
Section II. Theoretical and descriptive issues in syntactic cartography
- Chapter 9. Quantifictional binding without surface c-command in Mandarin Chinese 183
- Chapter 10. Towards a cartography of light verbs 217
- Chapter 11. Attitudinal applicative in action 243
- Chapter 12. Multiple counterparts of Mandarin qu (go) in Teochew and their cartographic distributions 261
- Chapter 13. On the syntactic representation of Chinese you ( 有 ) in “ you + VP” construction 287
- Index 323
- List of contributors 328
