Séminaire de Recherche en Linguistique

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Description du séminaire Print

Titre MAXELIDE-effects in infinitival clauses: PRO as an anaphoric variable
Conférencier Jason Overfelt (Oakland University)
Date mardi 04 mars 2025
Heure 12h15
Salle L208 (Bâtiment Candolle)
Description

Abstract : A major point of debate in transformational syntax concerns the identity of the silent subject position within the embedded infinitival clause of Control constructions:

 

                (1)          Lou tried [ __ to leave ]

 

The standard analysis in (2a) postulates a null pronominal element PRO in the embedded subject position (e.g., Chomsky 1981, Landau 2000, 2015). An influential alternative, shown in (2b), proposes that the embedded subject position may contain a trace of A-movement (e.g., Hornstein 2001, Grano 2015, Green 2019).

 

                (2)          a.            Lou1 tried [ PRO1 to leave ]

                               b.            Lou1 tried [ t1 to leave ]

 

This talk develops an argument in support of the claim that the embedded subject position of Control constructions contains the anaphoric variable PRO. Adapting observations originally made by Sag (1976), it is demonstrated that, with respect to ellipsis, this position exhibits the behavior of an elided pronoun, not an A-trace. The relevant data come in the form of MaxElide-effects (e.g., Schuyler 2001, Takahashi & Fox 2005), which describe the preference for ellipsis of a larger constituent over a smaller one in particular contexts. A relevant example is provided in (3):

 

                (3)          Anne1 knows who to invite and also

                               a.              Beth2 does <VP know who to [VP invite ] >

                               b.            *Beth2 [VP knows who to <VP invite >]

 

These effects can be observed across a range of infinitival constructions with varying Control interpretations. This offers evidence for the syntactic and semantic uniformity of PRO across all types of Control constructions.

 

Chomsky, N. 1981. Lectures on Government and Binding. • Grano, T. 2015. Control and restructuring. • Green, J.J. 2019. Glossa 4:87. • Hornstein, N. 2001. Move! A Minimalist theory of construal. • Landau, I. 2000. Elements of Control. • Landau, I. 2015. A two-tiered theory of Control. • Sag, I. 1976. Doctoral Dissertation, MIT. • Schuyler, T. 2001. In Syntax and semantics at Santa Cruz. • Takahashi, S. & D. Fox. 2005. In Proceedings of SALT XV.

 
   
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