Type
Text
Type
Dissertation
Advisor
Bailyn, John F. | Finer, Daniel L | Larson, Richard K | den Dikken, Marcel.
Date
2012-12-01
Keywords
Coordinated wh-movement, Pragmatics, Slavic Linguistics, Superiority, Syntax, Wh-movement processing | Linguistics--Language--Cognitive psychology
Department
Department of Linguistics
Language
en_US
Source
This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/11401/71406
Publisher
The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.
Format
application/pdf
Abstract
This dissertation maps the left-periphery of the Russian language, presenting a new geometry of Russian main and subordinate clauses in order to account for a number of phenomena: single and multiple wh-constructions, sluicing constructions, and coordinate multiple wh-constructions (CMW), as well as to predict various occurring word-orders. Interestingly, the theory for these constructions comes from a proposed unique wh-unrelated category, the Higher Operator Phrase (HOP), located higher than CP, which allows the aforementioned phenomena to fall out of the proposed structure. The thesis claims that Russian exhibits `true' wh-movement and is similar to Bulgarian in Rudin's 1988 typology, with a strong [+wh] feature on each wh-phrase, forcing it to be in the specifier of CP. Superiority holds, and emerges in various contexts in Russian; though its effects may be masked in the main clause by the ability of any wh to raise further (to SpecHOP). There is an asymmetry with respect to surface Superiority in matrix vs. embedded clauses: Superiority emerges in embedded clauses, and in main clauses whenever HOP is overtly occupied by a non-wh-phrase. The asymmetry falls out of the theoretical assumption that the HOP position is available in matrix clauses only. These conclusions give a rise to a re-analysis of sluicing in Russian as a wh-phenomenon where Superiority also emerges as it does in coordinate wh constructions (CMW). The analysis of CMW presented in this work is based on existing accounts utilizing sideward movement (Nunes 2001) and a coordination phrase (ConjP/&P) (Zoerner 1995, Gribanova 2009, Citko & Gračanin-Yuksek 2010). Finally, the thesis addresses the issue of what can occupy the head position of HOP. This gives rise to a discussion of Topicalization properties of this (HOP) position. It is shown how a topic-marking particle "-TO" can occur in this position, and adds to the evidence for the existence of this position. As a result, it illustrates how various wh- and other word order constructions can be uniformly analyzed with this unique structure. | 218 pages
Recommended Citation
Scott, Tatiana, "Whoever doesn't HOP must be Superior: The Russian left-periphery and the Emergence of Superiority" (2012). Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions). 612.
https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/stony-brook-theses-and-dissertations-collection/612