This article evaluates two competing analyses of Italian (and Romance) interrogatives: The CP- and the IP-analysis. The CP-analysis is claimed to be superior to the IP-analysis. In agreement with the minimalist assumptions that movement is governed by a principle of procrastination, it is argued that Italian questions do not feature I-to-C movement before Spell-out. Subjects in interrogatives do not occur in the preverbal position. Moreover, they cannot occupy the postverbal Position, where they may be found in declaratives, but must occupy left- or right- peripheral positions. These two facts are the basis for claiming that the primitive property underlying the formation of Italian interrogatives is the pro-drop Status of this language. This will also be one of the ingredients for selecting the Italian grammar of interrogatives

Guasti, M. (1996). On the controversial status of Romance interrogatives. PROBUS, 8(2), 161-180 [10.1515/prbs.1996.8.2.161].

On the controversial status of Romance interrogatives

GUASTI, MARIA TERESA
1996

Abstract

This article evaluates two competing analyses of Italian (and Romance) interrogatives: The CP- and the IP-analysis. The CP-analysis is claimed to be superior to the IP-analysis. In agreement with the minimalist assumptions that movement is governed by a principle of procrastination, it is argued that Italian questions do not feature I-to-C movement before Spell-out. Subjects in interrogatives do not occur in the preverbal position. Moreover, they cannot occupy the postverbal Position, where they may be found in declaratives, but must occupy left- or right- peripheral positions. These two facts are the basis for claiming that the primitive property underlying the formation of Italian interrogatives is the pro-drop Status of this language. This will also be one of the ingredients for selecting the Italian grammar of interrogatives
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
wh-criterion, I-to-C movement
English
1996
8
2
161
180
none
Guasti, M. (1996). On the controversial status of Romance interrogatives. PROBUS, 8(2), 161-180 [10.1515/prbs.1996.8.2.161].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/34525
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