This seminar explores the theoretical and empirical issues surrounding the syntax of relative clauses.  We will survey different approaches to the syntax of relative clauses, focusing on less studied types of relatives (free relatives, correlatives, appositives etc).  In the process, we will explore the following theoretical issues:

 

· movement and structure building operations within the minimalist program: copy theory of movement, 

  projection of non-target, locality of merge, countercyclic adjunction, internal versus external merge

· antisymmetry in syntax

· syntax-morphology interface (matching effects, case syncretism, case attraction)

· syntax-semantics interface (reconstruction effects)

 

E-Post: In order to facilitate discussion outside of class, I have established the E-Post message board for this class.  Take advantage of this useful resource.

 

I.           Introduction and Overview

 

Bianchi, V.  Headed relative clauses in generative syntax: Part I and Part II.  In Glot International

 

II.          Matching versus raising analyses of relative clauses

 

Citko, B.  2001.  Deletion under Identity in Relative Clauses, In NELS 31.

Sauerland, U. 1998. The meaning of chains. Doctoral dissertation, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Pp. 60-91.

*Sauerland, U. and Husley, S. Sorting out Relative Clauses. Ms. University of Connecticut and MIT.

*Bhatt, R. 2002. The raising analysis of relative clauses: evidence from adjectival modification.  Ms.

 

III.        Antisymmetric Approaches  to Relative Clauses 

 

* Kayne, Richard S. 1994. The antisymmetry of syntax. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.  Pp. 85-115.

Borsley, Robert D. 1997. Relative clauses and the theory of phrase structure. Linguistic Inquiry 28:629–647.

Bianchi, V. 2000.  The raising analysis of relative clauses: reply to Borsley.  Linguistic Inquiry 31:123-140.

 

IV.         Free Relatives: two ‘classic’ approaches

 

van Riemsdijk, H. 2000. Free Relatives. In Syncom: Case 44.

* Bresnan, Joan and Jane Grimshaw. 1978. 'The syntax of free relatives in English', Linguistic Inquiry 9, 3, pp. 331-391.

* Groos, Anneke and Henk van Riemsdijk. 1981. 'Matching effects in free relatives: a parameter of core grammar', in A. Belletti et al. (eds.), Theory of Markedness in Generative Grammar, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, pp. 171-216.

 

V.          Free Relatives: newer approaches and arguments

 

Larson, R. 1998. ‘Free Relative Clauses and Missing Ps: Reply to Grosu’, unpublished manuscript, Stony Brook University.

Bury, D. 2003.  Phrase Structure and derived heads. Doctoral dissertation, University College London. Chapter 4.

 

VII.       Correlatives

 

Bhatt, R. 2003. Locality in Correlatives.  Natural Language and Linguistic Theory.

Dwivedi, V. 1994. Syntactic Dependencies and Relative Phrases in Hindi.  Doctoral dissertation, UMass Amherst. Chapter 4.

* Izvorski, R. 1996.  The syntax and semantics of correlative proforms. In NELS 28.

* Den Dikken, M. (to appear).  Comparative Correlatives Comparatively.  Linguistic Inquiry.

 

VIII.      Prenominal Relative Clauses

 

Krause, C. 2001. On Reduced Relatives with Genitive Subjects. Doctoral dissertation, MIT. (Chapters 1-3)

 

IX.         Transparent Free Relatives and Existential Free Relatives

 

Wilder, Ch. 1999. Transparent Free Relatives. In WCCFL 17.

Izvorski, R. Non-indicative Wh-complements of possessive and existential predicates.  In NELS 28.

*Riemsdijk, Henk. C. van. 2000. 'Free Relatives Inside Out: Transparent Free Relatives as Grafts'. In Proceedings of the 1999 PASE Conference, B. Rozwadowska (ed.). University of Wrocław.

* Grosu, A.  The syntax and semantics of modal existential constructions. Ms.

* Grosu, A.  A unified theory of standard and transparent relatives.  NLLT, pp. 277-320.

*Caponigro, Ivano.  2001. On the semantics of Indefinite Free Relatives. In ConSOLE X.

 

X.          Appositives 

 

Demirdache, H. 1991. Resumptive chains in restrictive relatives, appositives and dislocation structures. Doctoral dissertation, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Chapter 3.

de Vries, M. (to appear).  ‘The Syntax of Appositive Relativization. On Specifying Coordination, False Free Relatives and Promotion.’ Linguistic Inquiry 37.

*de Vries, M. 2002. The syntax of relativization. Doctoral dissertation, Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics. Chapter 6.

* Gobo, F. 2003.  Appositives at the Interface. Doctoral dissertation, USC Irvine, Chapters 3-4.

 

Fall 2005

LING 580: Topics in the Syntax of Relative Clauses