Control Structure between Removal and Movement: Evidence from Modern Standard Arabic

Noura F Abdou

doi:10.13189/lls.2013.010204

Abstract

This paper investigates control structure in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in light of the current discussions that are revolving around either removing the control construction from the grammar because it is just like raising construction or retaining it. The Minimal Distance Principle (MDP) is applied in MSA in light of Landau's argument to clarify whether promise-type verbs are highly marked exceptions as claimed by Hornstein or not. This investigation explains that promise-type verbs are not highly marked. The pieces of evidence provided by the MSA examples point out that control structure is not a raising structure; thus the former cannot be reduced to the latter.

Highlights

Control and raising structures have been viewed and handled differently since roughly the emergence of generative grammar, controversial points of view regarding this kind of distinction have been raised recently
Hornstein [1] argues in favor of treating control and raising i.e. reducing control into raising. He claims that the removal of the control module, including the PRO theorem simplifies the grammar. He argues that Obligatory Control (OC) structures should be addressed in terms of movement, he initiates a Movement Theory of Control (MTC)
In spirit of Landau [2], I argue that control cannot be reduced to raising. This is because the status of Minimal Distance Principle (MDP), which is advocated by Hornstein [1] to account for his MTC approach, cannot account for the choice of the controller of PRO especially with cases of promise-type verbs

Summary

Introduction

Control and raising structures have been viewed and handled differently since roughly the emergence of generative grammar, controversial points of view regarding this kind of distinction have been raised recently. Hornstein [1] argues in favor of treating control and raising i.e. reducing control into raising. He claims that the removal of the control module, including the PRO theorem simplifies the grammar. In spirit of Landau [2], I argue that control cannot be reduced to raising This is because the status of Minimal Distance Principle (MDP), which is advocated by Hornstein [1] to account for his MTC approach, cannot account for the choice of the controller of PRO especially with cases of promise-type verbs. Examples from MSA serve as evidence in favor of my argument

Literature Review

Theoretical Basis

Minimal Distance Principle

Conclusion