The Preposition Stranding in IRAQI Arabic Sluicing Conditions and Generalization

Abstract

  This paper discusses and challenges the apparent violation of the Merchant Preposition Stranding Generalization (PSG) of 2001. As initiating with the description of the non-prepositive stranding language sluicing in Iraqi Arabic, optional tends to show in stranding and pied-piping a preposition. The study addresses an account arguing that Iraqi Arabic sluicing only derived from a cleft source under preposition stranded (p stranding). Therefore, pseudosluicing is an instance given its presence as sluicing. The evident P-stranding violation is that the wh-pivots of clefts cannot be contributed significantly by a preposition in Iraqi Arabic. Therefore, in the face of initial appearances, the Iraqi Arabic is not a counter-example of the generalisation of the merchant. In addition, two separate sources in Iraqi Arabic of IP ellipse are proposed: sluicing and pseudosluicing, both of which generated by wh-movement plus IP deletion. On the basis of both these sluicing-related evidence, updated evidence for the study of Arabic Class II interrogatives as copular clauses are given.