Unifying Optional Wh-movement

Abstract

This thesis puts forward a theory that attempts to unify optional wh- movement within theMinimalist framework. Optionality is generally prob- lematic for a theory ofMinimalist syntax: movement,whenmotivated,must occur. This thesis argues strongly against this and claims that formal option- ality can and is predicted to fall out through various ways inwhich the EPP can be satisfied. There are three core pillars to the theory proposed. First, theQuP hypothesis proposes that universally, a question particleQu, which is seen to be a variable over choice functions, takes wh-phrases as their com- plements to form a larger constituent. Second, it is proposed that the princi- ple driving force of optional movement lies in the Featural Subset Hypoth- esis. The FSH proposes that the EPP is not parasitic on Agree; rather, the EPP along with other features can be arranged into a subset configuration. Depending on what this configuration is, three types of equally economical movement can result: spec-raising, head movement, or phrasal movement. The third pillar of the theory lies in the concept of Q-migration, as first de- veloped inHagstrom(1998). The concept ofQ-migration is heavily adapted, redeveloped and formalised, appealing to a combination of m-merger (Ma- tushansky 2006), reprojective movement (Donati 2006) and new principle of L(abel)-absorption, which allows the transformation of specifiers into ad- juncts. The main purpose of Q-migration is to obviate island barriers in order to allow elements within the island, especially Qu, to escape, yield- ing the correct interpretation of wh-in-situ elements within islands. The theory is then applied to a variety of languages and especially applied in accounting for the optional wh-movement facts in Singapore English, a con- tact language with heavy Chinese substrate influence, for which new and original data will be presented.