Order in phrase structure and movement

• Published in: Theoretical Comparative Syntax pp. 179 - 208
• Main Author: Fukui, Naoki
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 2006; Taylor & Francis Group
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Grammar, syntax, linguistic structure; Subjacency Violation; Maximal Projection; MLC; IP Ti; Head Initial Languages; Long Distance Scrambling; VP Internal Subject Hypothesis; Matrix Scope; Argument Wh; PBC; Specifier Head Agreement; Adjunct Wh; Landing Site; Adjunction Site; Bare Phrase Structure Theory; Multiple Subject Construction; Feature Checking; Adjunction Operations; Minimal Link Condition; Object Wh; Subject Condition Effects; Target Phrase Structure; Adjunction Analysis; Heavy Np Shift; Head Parameter
• ISBN: 0415341035; 0415860121; 9780415341035; 9780415860123
• DOI: 10.4324/9780203479179-9

In this article we aim to develop the theory of phrase structure and movement, focusing in particular on parametric differences between English and Japanese. We adopt and argue for Chomsky's (1994) proposal to eliminate X′ theory. At the same time, we maintain that the head parameter, or more precisely a modified version of it, plays a crucial role in syntax. We propose that the traditional "adjunction" operations - that is, scrambling and Heavy NP Shift - should be considered to be substitution in the sense that their landing site is completely within a projection of the target. We argue further that classical cases of "substitution" including NP-movement and wh-movement involve genuine adjunction in that they create a multisegmented category out of the target. We show that a number of differences between English and Japanese follow from this theory.