Complex Tenses, Agreement and Wh-extraction

Abstract

0. Introduction In this paper we provide an analysis of the syntax of tense in Berber and investigate the interaction between complex tenses and the Anti-Agreement Effect (AAE), which was first discussed by Ouhalla (1993). Our analysis attempts to unify the tense system of Berber and make an accurate distinction between tense and aspect in this language. In our analysis of complex tenses we propose that complex tense clauses are bi-clausal, i.e. their structure consists of two Tense projections, and show how that is compatible with the defectiveness of T in embedded domains. Our analysis provides empirical evidence for cyclic valuation/checking of Case (Chomsky 2000, 2001). We also present certain similarities between AAE in Berber and auxiliary raising/T-to-C in English, regarding cases of local wh-movement of subjects vs. objects. This paper is organized as follows: section 1 provides some background and offers an analysis of the tense system in Berber, section 2 analyzes complex tenses in this language, section 3 compares complex tense constructions to Exceptional Case Marking (ECM) constructions, section 4 discusses subject extraction and offers an analysis of AAE, and section 5 highlights the asymmetry between AAE in Berber and Tto-C raising in English.