Abstract
This paper provides a new minimalist analysis of existential constructions that reconciles two salient properties: (i) the fact that the local relation between there and its associate mimics the locality involved in movement relations and (ii) the fact that the associate is interpreted where it sits. Assuming that A-chains can only have one visible link at LF, I argue that, due to certain properties of there, reconstruction into the foot of the associate chain is the only option that yields interpretable results.
Highlights
RESUMO: Este trabalho propõe uma nova análise minimalista de construções existenciais que reconcilia duas propriedades salientes: (i) o fato de a relação local entre o expletivo e seu associado reproduzir a localidade encontrada em relações de movimento e (ii) o fato de o associado ser interpretado na posição em que se encontra
A successful account must reconcile two salient properties of existential constructions (ECs): the fact that there is a local relation between the expletive and its indefinite associate and
(1) a. *There is the man in a room b. *There seems that a man is in the room c. *There is the picture of a man in the room d. *There seems that Bill saw a man Chomsky 1986 assimilates the unacceptability of the sentences in (1) to that in (2), in which the indefinite has overtly moved to Spec IP
Summary
Every time syntactic theory changes, existential constructions (ECs) are reanalyzed. The turn towards minimalism is no exception. thereconstructions have been the center of repeated theoretical speculation. A successful account must reconcile two salient properties of ECs: the fact that there is a local relation between the expletive and its indefinite associate and. The locality violations that render the overt movements ungrammatical in (2) are covertly present in (1) on the assumption that the indefinite associate A-moves to the neighborhood of the expletive at LF. In each case the contrasts follow if the associate’s scope coincides with its overt position Taken together these data cast a long shadow on the Chomsky’s (1986) assumption that the associate raises to the neighborhood of the expletive at LF.. In a GB style account it is always possible to stipulate that scope in ECs is sensitive to S-Structure (SS) position while LF movement is required as well.3 This option permits one to reconcile the antagonistic data, albeit in a less than elegant fashion. The section outlines the assumptions required to arrive at this happy conclusion
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