Maximality and modality in infinitival Wh-complements

Abstract

Infinitival Wh-complements exhibit a modal interpretation, which arises despite there being no overt lexical modal. In the only comprehensive analysis of the modality, Bhatt (1999) argues that it should be attributed to a covert modal operator. The semantics of this operator is more specific than the typical Kratzerian one. This paper reexamines the original motivation underpinning Bhatt's analysis of the covert modal, and argues that such facts can be accounted for if the interrogative component of infinitival Wh-complements is specified to denote only maximal answers – a solution that is needed more generally in the interpretation of questions. Thus, it is not necessary to imbue the covert modal with a more specific semantics, making it possible to more broadly unify modal Wh-questions and infinitival Wh-complements.