Question words in focus positions

Bibliographic Data

ID19525531
AuthorsK A Jayaseelan (English and Foreign Languages University, corresponding author)
Year2003
Volume3
Pages69-99
Publication date2003-12-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLinguistic Variation Yearbook (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1568-1483 • E-ISSN: 1569-9900
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/livy.3.05jay
OpenAlexW2011386509
LanguageEN
Citations received2

Malayalam, an SOV language, moves its wh -phrases to a Focus position immediately to the left of V (linearly speaking). Multiple wh -phrases are “stacked” in this position. Wh -extraction from an embedded clause is not possible. When a wh -phrase in an embedded clause has matrix scope, scope-marking is done by two movements: the wh -phrase moves to the Focus position in the embedded clause, and the embedded clause is pied-piped to the Focus position in the matrix clause. It is shown that the device of “Attract” by EPP is inadequate (by itself) to describe these movements (or multiple wh -fronting). We suggest a supplementary device. “Association with focus”, the algorithm by which the question operator accesses question words, is (we suggest) a kind of ‘probe’. In languages which employ strong focusing devices, the question operator’s probe “looks at” only Focus positions. In these languages, wh -phrases must cluster in Focus positions in order to be interpreted

Dependent clause · Linguistics · Natural language processing · Non-finite clause · Phrase · Programming language · Sentence · Computer Science · Natural Language Processing Techniques · Philosophy · Speech and dialogue systems · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation · Artificial Intelligence

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