Locality in Wh Quantification: Questions and Relative Clauses in Hindi (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780792340997)

Locality in WH Quantification argues that Logical Form, the level that mediates between syntax and semantics, is derived from S-structure by local movement. The primary data for the claim of locality at LF is drawn from Hindi but English data is used in discussing the semantics of questions and relative clauses. The book takes a cross-linguistic perspective showing how the Hindi and English facts can be brought to bear on the theory of universal grammar.
There are several phenomena generally thought to involve long-distance dependencies at LF, such as scope marking, long-distance list answers and correlatives. In this book they are handled by explicating novel types of local relationships that interrogative and relative clauses can enter. A more articulated semantics is shown leading to a simpler syntax.
Among other issues addressed is the switch from uniqueness/maximality effects in single wh constructions to list readings in multiple wh constructions. These effects are captured by adapting the treatment of wh expressions as quantifying over functions to the cases of multiple wh questions and correlatives. List readings due to functional dependencies are systematically distinguished from those that are based on plurality.


Author: Veneeta Dayal
ISBN-10: 079234099X
ISBN-13: 9780792340997
Publisher: Springer
Language: English
Published: 07/31/1996
Pages: 252
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.22lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.63d