Variation Flashcards
T-to-C Movement
take the element in T and move it to the front of the sentence. (forms yes/no questions)
yes/no questions
the answer is yes or no. formed by t-to-c movement
what does cp tell us
whether a sentence is declarative or interrogative
t or f: all clauses have a cp layer above the tp
true
[+Q] vs. [-Q]
[+Q] interrogative
[-Q] declarative
do-insertion
- insert interrogative do into an empty T position
2. move t to c
wh-movement
- move t to c
2. move question word to the specifier of CP
trace
an empty category that occupies a position in the syntactic structure
that-trace effect
the complementizer that cannot be followed by a trace
t or f the moved element in wh-movement is just the wh-word
false
when can’t contractions occur
when the words aren’t adjacent
Why does movement occur?
T to C and wh-movement are driven by features on C.
T or F: The basic X-bar architecture is part of Universal Grammar
true
Head-initial
heads before complements (on the right)
Head-final
heads after complements (on the left)
linearization
we find variation in how sentences are linearized
implications of linearization for UG
helps children learn languages: a single parameter setting controls all features
Similarities b/n all languages
- Sentences are constructed from a basic template: CP≫TP≫ VP
- Thematic roles (AGENT, THEME, etc.) are assigned in the same relative structural configuration
- Verbs and prepositions select NP complements Nouns and adjectives select PP-complements CP is involved in question-formation
- Sentences are formed from phrases following a universal X-bar template
Differences b/n languages
Some languages move wh-phrases to the specifier of CP, while others leave them in their base positions
Head-initial vs. head-final
Height of Verbs in English vs. French vs. German
English: Verbs stay in V; subjects in Specifier of TP
French: Verbs raise to T; subjects in Specifier of TP
German: Verbs raise to C; “subjects” in Specifier of CP
English T and V
Some auxiliaries show inflection for tense, lending support to the idea that they are in T
If there are multiple auxiliaries, only the highest one inflects for tense
V2 Languages
The inflected verb or auxiliary is in the second position of the clause
*Second constituent, not the second word
Evidence that the verb is in C
When C is filled, the verb can’t move into it
If a wh-word moves to the specifier of CP, another NP can’t also move there
In order to capture variation, we can look at __
consistent patterns
T or F: Do-insertion is required in negated English sentences
True
T or F: In French, if there is an auxiliary in T, V to T movement does not take place
True
Benefits of CP
We have space for some constituents to move to the specifier of CP
And the verb can be second (in the head of CP)
