Simple and complex wh-phrases in a split CP

This paper examines the interaction between the syntax of wh-movement and the split CP hypothesis. It argues that the CPdomain should be split up into (at least) two functional projections. The higher one is related to clause typing, while in the lower one operator features are checked. This setup interacts with wh-movement in a particular way: while simple wh-phrases like who or what move from their IF-internal base position into the (extended) CP-domain, complex ones such as which book are base-generated in the left periphery and involve empty operator movement. This proposal is supported by a wide set of seemingly unrelated data from standard and non-standard varieties of Germanic.

Publication year:2009