A Phase Inheritance-based Account on A’-extraction of Double Object Constructions

Abstract

This paper attempts to explain the A’-extraction of Double Object Constructions from a cross-linguistic perspective. Three hypotheses are adopted. Firstly, every functional head may bear an EPP feature (Chomsky 1998, Landau 2007, Saito 2011), namely the generalized EPP regardless whether it is a Phase head or not, while the Phase head bears an extra EPP feature, namely the Phase EPP. Secondly, the Phase EPP feature may be handed over to the head immediately below it. Thirdly, the Mixed Chains Constraint should be respected (Chomsky 2005). In American English type-languages, since the Phase EPP is handed over to the applicative head from the little v, only the DO is allowed to undergo A’-movement to Spec CP. In Korean type-languages, since the Phase EPP feature is retained on the little v, only the IO is allowed to undergo A’-movement to Spec CP. In Polish type-languages, since the Phase EPP feature is optionally handed over to the applicative head from the little v, either the IO or the DO can undergo A’-movement to Spec CP.