<OT> New Posting: ROA-1004

[roa at ruccs.rutgers.edu]

ROA 1004-1208

Functional Constraints on Wh-question Formation

Gabriel de Avila Othero <gabriel_othero at terra.com.br>

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=1004


Abstract:
In this article, we seek to demonstrate the descriptive
and explanatory power of two central ideas in Optimality
Theory: (i) the idea that there can be conflict among grammatical
constraints; and (ii) that these conflicts are solved by
the ranking of the constraints. We illustrate these points
with an analysis of the sentence patterns in question-formation,
as shown in Ackema & Neeleman (1998). However, our analysis
is different from A&N (1998), as we propose functional constraint
s acting in the formation of interrogative sentence patterns.
We actually propose three constraints: Economy, Morphological
Marking and Focalization. As we understand, a grammar is
a system of optimization in two senses: (i) its conditions
are codifications of functional demands over the form of
the sentences; and (ii) the interaction among these demands
must include a way to solve eventual conflicts among them.

Comments: 
Keywords: Optimality Theory, Syntax, Wh-questions.
Areas: Syntax
Type: Manuscript

Direct link: http://roa.rutgers.edu/view.php3?roa=1004