Nominalization and WH-movement in Seediq and Tagalog
نویسنده
چکیده
This paper proposes a structural analysis of two types of wh-question formation in the Austronesian languages Seediq and Tagalog. Wh-questions formed on arguments are pseudo-cleft constructions; the wh-word functions as a predicate taking the rest of the clause, in the form of a headless relative, as its subject. The restriction that argument wh-questions can only be formed on absolutives is accounted for by a requirement that an absolutive Case feature must be checked in the C domain by the operator forming the relative clause. In contrast to this, adjunct wh-questions are formed via wh-movement. The fact that adjunct wh-words cannot appear in clause-initial position in Seediq is the result of basic word order generation in this language, which produces VOS order by fronting the predicate XP around the absolutive. This prevents adjunct wh-words contained inside the fronted predicate from moving out without violating the CED. Adjunct wh-words in Tagalog do appear in clause-initial position, which can be explained because Tagalog is a VSO language, whose word order is not generated by moving the entire predicate, thus leaving adjuncts free to move.
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