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Freezing Effects in a free-Merge System

A configurational approach
  • Ángel J. Gallego
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Freezing
This chapter is in the book Freezing

Abstract

This paper reconsiders so-called freezing effects within Chomsky’s (2004 and sub.) Phase Theory. I argue that freezing (or halting) should not be seen as the consequence of an exocentric {XP,YP} structure in which the heads of XP and YP share some feature (cf. Chomsky 2013, 2015) or as the invisibility of X’ projections (cf. Rizzi 2015). Instead, I submit that A-freezing (Chomsky’s 2000, 2001 Activity Condition) and A-bar freezing (Rizzi’s 2006 Criterial Freezing) should be dealt with by different principles: the former follows from an independently motivated rule of efficient computation (the application of cyclic Transfer; cf. Chomsky 2000, Uriagereka 1999), coupled with Labeling Theory (cf. Chomsky 2013, 2015), whereas the latter is simply syntactically vacuous. In line with previous proposals (cf. Gallego 2009; Epstein, Kitahara & Seely 2016), I claim that XPs in edge positions are not frozen in the narrow syntax (they can always move, unless affected by cyclic Transfer). Nevertheless, such XPs may be part of a configuration and thus receive an interpretation at the semantic component (cf. Chomsky 2001, 2004). Therefore, if they move from an edge, the relevant interpretation at that edge (be it topic, focus, etc.) will be lost, as interpretations of the relevant kind (thetaroles, criterial-roles, etc.) cannot accumulate, which I ultimately attribute to a Principle of Interface Freezing, whose effects can be subsumed under the Principle of Full Interpretation (cf. Chomsky 1986a).

Abstract

This paper reconsiders so-called freezing effects within Chomsky’s (2004 and sub.) Phase Theory. I argue that freezing (or halting) should not be seen as the consequence of an exocentric {XP,YP} structure in which the heads of XP and YP share some feature (cf. Chomsky 2013, 2015) or as the invisibility of X’ projections (cf. Rizzi 2015). Instead, I submit that A-freezing (Chomsky’s 2000, 2001 Activity Condition) and A-bar freezing (Rizzi’s 2006 Criterial Freezing) should be dealt with by different principles: the former follows from an independently motivated rule of efficient computation (the application of cyclic Transfer; cf. Chomsky 2000, Uriagereka 1999), coupled with Labeling Theory (cf. Chomsky 2013, 2015), whereas the latter is simply syntactically vacuous. In line with previous proposals (cf. Gallego 2009; Epstein, Kitahara & Seely 2016), I claim that XPs in edge positions are not frozen in the narrow syntax (they can always move, unless affected by cyclic Transfer). Nevertheless, such XPs may be part of a configuration and thus receive an interpretation at the semantic component (cf. Chomsky 2001, 2004). Therefore, if they move from an edge, the relevant interpretation at that edge (be it topic, focus, etc.) will be lost, as interpretations of the relevant kind (thetaroles, criterial-roles, etc.) cannot accumulate, which I ultimately attribute to a Principle of Interface Freezing, whose effects can be subsumed under the Principle of Full Interpretation (cf. Chomsky 1986a).

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents VII
  3. Exploring the concepts of Freezing: Theoretical and empirical perspectives 1
  4. Part I: Theoretical advancement
  5. Criterial Freezing in small clauses and the cartography of copular constructions 29
  6. Freezing Effects in a free-Merge System 66
  7. Freezing in complex prefields 105
  8. Part II: Empirical domains
  9. The Freezing points of the (Dutch) adjectival system 143
  10. Freezing in it-clefts: Movement and focus 195
  11. Criterial Freezing in the syntax of particles 225
  12. Only syntax 264
  13. Freezing and phi-feature agreement: On the role of [PERSON] 284
  14. Freezing, Topic Opacity and Phase-based Cyclicity in Subject Islands 317
  15. Part III: Interface extensions
  16. Freezing: Between grammar and processing 353
  17. Heavy NP shift in context: On the interaction of information structure and subextraction from shifted constituents 387
  18. Freezing as a probabilistic phenomenon 403
  19. An experimental study on freezing and topicalization in English 430
  20. Index 451
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504266-003

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents VII
  3. Exploring the concepts of Freezing: Theoretical and empirical perspectives 1
  4. Part I: Theoretical advancement
  5. Criterial Freezing in small clauses and the cartography of copular constructions 29
  6. Freezing Effects in a free-Merge System 66
  7. Freezing in complex prefields 105
  8. Part II: Empirical domains
  9. The Freezing points of the (Dutch) adjectival system 143
  10. Freezing in it-clefts: Movement and focus 195
  11. Criterial Freezing in the syntax of particles 225
  12. Only syntax 264
  13. Freezing and phi-feature agreement: On the role of [PERSON] 284
  14. Freezing, Topic Opacity and Phase-based Cyclicity in Subject Islands 317
  15. Part III: Interface extensions
  16. Freezing: Between grammar and processing 353
  17. Heavy NP shift in context: On the interaction of information structure and subextraction from shifted constituents 387
  18. Freezing as a probabilistic phenomenon 403
  19. An experimental study on freezing and topicalization in English 430
  20. Index 451
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