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Local Instability : Split Topicalization and Quantifier Float in German / Dennis Ott.

By: Material type: TextTextSeries: Linguistische Arbeiten ; 544Publisher: Berlin ; Boston : De Gruyter, [2012]Copyright date: ©2012Description: 1 online resource (174 p.)Content type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9783110290370
  • 9783110290950
Subject(s): Other classification:
  • online - DeGruyter
Online resources: Available additional physical forms:
  • Issued also in print.
Contents:
Frontmatter -- 0 Acknowledgments -- Contents -- 1 Introduction: Aims and Scope -- 2 Split Topics: Empirical Properties and Theoretical Problems -- 3 The Syntax of Split Topics: A Novel Approach -- 4 An Extension to Quantifer Float -- 5 Conclusion and Outlook -- References -- Index
Dissertation note: Diss, Harvard University 2011. Summary: This monograph argues for a novel approach to split topicalization and quantifier float in German, based on the premise that syntactic structure-building proceeds solely via free application of Merge. Following recent developments in the pursuit of a more principled theory of syntax, it is argued that the stipulative notion of ‘projection’ ought to be dispensed with: syntactic objects created by Merge are not headed, and endocentricity arises due to a simple search algorithm. When this algorithm fails, specifically in symmetric {XP,YP} structures, an unlabeled constituent results; where a label is required, such structures are locally unstable. It is argued that both split topics and floated quantifiers are the result of this kind of local instability: when an exocentric predication structure is merged in argument or adjunct position, XP must be displaced at the phase level to allow for determination of a label. It is this symmetry-breaking movement that yields the ‘split constituent’ in surface form. Based on careful empirical scrutiny of two recalcitrant problems for syntactic theory, the present work adduces substantial support for a ‘minimalist’ grammatical architecture devoid of phrase-structural residue.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number URL Status Notes Barcode
eBook eBook Biblioteca "Angelicum" Pont. Univ. S.Tommaso d'Aquino Nuvola online online - DeGruyter (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Online access Not for loan (Accesso limitato) Accesso per gli utenti autorizzati / Access for authorized users (dgr)9783110290950

Diss, Harvard University 2011.

Frontmatter -- 0 Acknowledgments -- Contents -- 1 Introduction: Aims and Scope -- 2 Split Topics: Empirical Properties and Theoretical Problems -- 3 The Syntax of Split Topics: A Novel Approach -- 4 An Extension to Quantifer Float -- 5 Conclusion and Outlook -- References -- Index

restricted access online access with authorization star

http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_16ec

This monograph argues for a novel approach to split topicalization and quantifier float in German, based on the premise that syntactic structure-building proceeds solely via free application of Merge. Following recent developments in the pursuit of a more principled theory of syntax, it is argued that the stipulative notion of ‘projection’ ought to be dispensed with: syntactic objects created by Merge are not headed, and endocentricity arises due to a simple search algorithm. When this algorithm fails, specifically in symmetric {XP,YP} structures, an unlabeled constituent results; where a label is required, such structures are locally unstable. It is argued that both split topics and floated quantifiers are the result of this kind of local instability: when an exocentric predication structure is merged in argument or adjunct position, XP must be displaced at the phase level to allow for determination of a label. It is this symmetry-breaking movement that yields the ‘split constituent’ in surface form. Based on careful empirical scrutiny of two recalcitrant problems for syntactic theory, the present work adduces substantial support for a ‘minimalist’ grammatical architecture devoid of phrase-structural residue.

Issued also in print.

Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.

In English.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 28. Feb 2023)

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