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ROA:892.07
Title:An Optimality-Theoretic Analysis of Scandinavian Object Shift and Remnant VP-Topicalisation
Authors:Eva Engels, Sten Vikner
Comment:Appears in LiP 25: http://www.ling.uni-potsdam.de/lip/
Length:37
Abstract:Holmberg (1997, 1999) assumes that Holmberg's generalisation (HG) is derivational, prohibiting Object Shift (OS) across an intervening non-adverbial element at any point in the derivation. Counterexamples to this hypothesis are given in Fox & Pesetsky (2005) which show that remnant VP-topicalisations are possible in Scandinavian as long as the VP-internal order relations are maintained. Extending the empirical basis concerning remnant VP-topicalisations, we argue that HG and the restrictions on object stranding result from the same, more general condition on order preservation. Considering this condition to be violable and to interact with various constraints on movement in an Optimality-theoretic fashion, we suggest an account for various asymmetries in the interaction between remnant VP-topicalisations and both OS and other movement operations (especially subject raising) as to their order preserving characteristics and stranding abilities.
Type:Paper/tech report
Area/Keywords:Syntax
Article:Version 1