A LOCAL RELATION BETWEEN PARTICLES AND VERBAL PREFIXES IN ENGLISH

Abstract

This paper aims to account for the restriction on cooccurrence of parti- cles and verbal prefixes like re-and un-. We first show that Old English particles had a cooperative relation to certain verbal prefixes in imparting spatial or completive meanings to verbs. By assuming an abstract null prefix, we next claim that this relation was retained after the OE prefixes disappeared. Noting that this relation is similar to that between a nega- tive operator and a negative head, we propose a principle parallel to the Neg Criterion, and explain the cooccurrence restriction. Finally, we re- vise it to cover some locative argument PPs as well as particles.