Abstract
We argue that conditions on negative polarity licensing are parametrized. First we show that in a language like Hindi, a negative polarity item (NPI) can be licensed even if it is hierarchically superior to negation (an NPI licenser) at s-structure. Independent evidence is provided to show that sentence negation raises to adjoin to IP at LF in Hindi. We suggest that this provides a c-commanding licenser to license the NPI in Hindi at LF. On the basis of this, we conclude that the commonly assumed s-structure requirement on NPI licensing is not universal. Next we demonstrate that c-command is a necessary but not a sufficient condition on NPI licensing. On the basis of some evidence from both Hindi and English, we suggest that the relevant licensing condition involves government. Furthermore the application of this condition is parametrized in that it applies only at LF in Hindi while it must hold at both s-structure as well as at LF in English.
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