On Extraposition From Np Constructions: A Phase-Based Account

Abstract

* This is a revised and expanded version of my paper, which was originally given at the 26th Conference of the English Linguistic Society of Japan held at Tsukuba University in 2008 and subsequently published as Tanaka (2009). I am especially grateful to Nobuaki Nishioka for invaluable comments and suggestions. I would also like to thank the audience for helpful comments. My thanks also go to Christopher P. Carman and Stephen Laker for stylistic improvements, and three reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions. Needless to say, all remaining errors and inadequacies in the paper are my own. Sangyo-Ika UniversityThis paper explicates grammatical properties of Extraposition from NP (ExNP) constructions in English in terms of the Phase Theory in Chomsky (2008). We assume that Edge Features (EF) in phase heads can be a driving force for rightward mergers (linearly unrestricted EFs) and transmitted from phase heads to their selecting heads due to the derivationally interpretive mechanism (EF-inheritance). These phase-based assumptions allow extraposed phrases to be adjoined to the rightward position in a single transferred domain where a modification relation can be derivationally formed between relevant phrases and their host DPs. Finally, we show that our approach can be successfully extended to Secondary Predicate (SP) constructions.*

An Extension of Feature-Inheritance

“…Although Drummond et al (2010) attempt to capture this by suggesting that prepositional phrases possess an escape hatch only in their left edge but not in their right edge, their argument is vague with details of the mechanism remaining unclear. This paper argues that the F-T framework can account for the impossibility, if coupled with Tanaka's (2011) proposal of Edge Feature-Inheritance (EF-I).…”

“…{EF} According to Tanaka (2011), example (53) is generated by the derivation presented in (54). The phase head v* transmits its EF onto the head of its complement, namely V, when the rightward movement occurs.…”

“…The phase head v* transmits its EF onto the head of its complement, namely V, when the rightward movement occurs. When this occurs, Tanaka (2011) argues that it is to the right adjunct position that the EF on V attracts the relevant element. Therefore, of DP moves to the right adjunct position of VP.…”

“…It is crucial for his argument that the attachment position of rightward movement is the right adjunct position of the complement of the phase head, namely, of VP. Tanaka (2011) argues that modification relations can hold only within the same Transfer domain. Therefore, of DP must be transferred with the modified DP within VP.…”

Reconsidering Phase-Internal Derivations: Are They Exceptional or Not?

“…In the case of (34), a possible explanation will be that wh-movement of extraposed PPs can somehow remove discourse/functional anomalies brought about by extraposition. 17 Empirical evidence suggests that extraposed elements can be adjoined to TP or VP (Culicover and Rochemont (1990), Hirata (1996), Mizuguchi (2009) and Tanaka (2011), among others). For our purpose here, we assume that extraposed PPs are adjoined to VP.…”