A tenet of any version of phrase structure theory is that a lexical item can transmit its label when merged with another category. We assume that if it is internally merged, a lexical item can turn a clause into a nominal phrase. If the relabeling lexical item is a wh-word, a free relative results; if it is an N, a full relative results; if it is a non-wh D, a pseudorelative results. It follows that the head of a relative construction cannot be more complex than a lexical item. We show massive evidence that when it is otherwise (e.g., the book about Obama that you bought), the modifier is late-merged after the noun has moved and relabeled the structure. © 2011 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Donati, C., Cecchetto, C. (2011). Relabeling Heads. A Unified Account for Relativization Structures. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY, 42(4), 519-560 [10.1162/LING_a_00060].

Relabeling Heads. A Unified Account for Relativization Structures

CECCHETTO, CARLO
2011

Abstract

A tenet of any version of phrase structure theory is that a lexical item can transmit its label when merged with another category. We assume that if it is internally merged, a lexical item can turn a clause into a nominal phrase. If the relabeling lexical item is a wh-word, a free relative results; if it is an N, a full relative results; if it is a non-wh D, a pseudorelative results. It follows that the head of a relative construction cannot be more complex than a lexical item. We show massive evidence that when it is otherwise (e.g., the book about Obama that you bought), the modifier is late-merged after the noun has moved and relabeled the structure. © 2011 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
relatives clauses, labeling, head-movement, noun complementation, free relatives, pseudorelatives
English
2011
42
4
519
560
none
Donati, C., Cecchetto, C. (2011). Relabeling Heads. A Unified Account for Relativization Structures. LINGUISTIC INQUIRY, 42(4), 519-560 [10.1162/LING_a_00060].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/21377
Citazioni
  • Scopus 58
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 49
Social impact