LANE 334 2018-2019

  1. Null Constituents2: Null C

5.1 Null C in finite clauses

  • Complementizers (C) are the head of CPs and carry the force feature of the overall CP.
  1. We didn’t know [if he had resigned]
  2. We didn’t know [that he had resigned]
  3. We didn’t know [he had resigned]

[if he had resigned] interrogative force (meaning: did he resign?)

[that he had resigned] declarative force

Is the empty C in the third sentence a null ifOR a null that?

a null that

[thathe had resigned] declarative force

We didn’t know [ CP [Cø] [TP he had resigned]]

 Imagine: if he had resigned is a main clause and not an embedded clause.

Do all clauses (embedded or main) that have a force must have C (overt or null)?

Yes.

  • C is the category that carries the [FORCE] feature.
  • [+FORCE]means presence of C.
  • In other words, if there is a force interpretation  there is a C.

e.g. I am feeling thirsty.

  • One important property of the null C ø in declarative finite clauses is:

a.He is playing football.

b. * Him is playing football.

  • A null C assigns nominative case in English.

Evidence:

In Arabic, null C assigns nominative case but an overt C assigned accusative case:

  1. [CPø [TPʔal-walad-u ya-lʕabu]]

NOMINATIVE CASE

b. [CPʔinna [TP ʔal-walad-a ya-lʕabu]]

ACCUSATIVE CASE

5.2 Null C in infinitive clauses

  • Similar to finite TPs, a non-finite TPis headed by (overt or null) C, which case-marks its subject.
  1. I will arrange [for him to see the specialist.]
  2. I wanted [him to apologize.]

[for him to see the specialist.] [him to apologize.]

Why ø is the counterpart of the accusative case-assigner for?

Evidence: coordination.

Coordination takes place between two constituents of the same category.

[TP------] and [CP------] is NOT possible.

[CP------] and [CP------] is possible.

I wanted [Mary to come to Japan] and [for her to see my parents.]

I wanted [CP[C for] [TPMary [T to] come to Japan]] and [CP [Cfor] [TP [her [Tto] see my parents.]]

  • Note: non-finite clauses may also have a PRO subject.

e.g. I will arrange to see a specialist

I will arrange [TPPRO to see a specialist]

 Is the infinitival TP in the above sentence headed by a null C?

Evidence: Coordination

[ PRO to see a specialist] is a CP.

Remember!

[TP------] and [CP------] is NOT possible. 

[CP------] and [CP------] is possible.

I will arrange [to see a specialist] and [for my wife to see one at the same time]

I will arrange [to see a specialist] and [for my wife to see one at the same time]

I will arrange [CPto see a specialist] and [CPfor my wife to see one at the same time]

5.3 Defective clauses

  • Not all finite clauses are CP.
  1. They believe [him to be innocent.]
  2. We didn’t intend [you to hurt anyone.]

Evidence:

  1. Coordination
  1. *They believe [him to be innocent]and [CPfor her to be naive.]
  2. *We didn’t intend [you to hurt anyone] and [CPfor him to hurt you.]
  1. Subjects of embedded CPscannot be passivized. Only subjects of TP can.
  1. They believe [him to be innocent.] <active>
  2. He is believed to be innocent. <passive>
  1. We didn’t intend [you to hurt anyone.] <active>

b. You were not intended to hurt anyone. <passive>

  • Note that controlled PRO cannot be passivized because it is the subject of the CP
  1. She wanted [CPJohn to apologize] <active>
  2. *John was wanted [CPto apologize] <passive>

[him to be innocent] is a TP.

Since there is no C, what is the case-assignor of the accusative case for the pronoun (him)?

[him to be innocent] is an Exceptional case-marking clause.

The pronoun is assigned accusative case by the transitive verb (rather than by C).

Conclusion

•Nullfunctors: PRN, T, C, D, Q.

•All clauses contain a TP with an overt or null T and an overt or null subject.

•On top of TP in all main clauses (and most complement clauses) there’s a CP containing an overt or null C marking force.

•BUT non-finite clauses with passivisable accusative subjects are defective TPs with no CP e.g. I believe [TPhim [Tto] be honest]

•Definite noun expressions are DPs headed by an (overt or null) D, and indefinites are QPs headed by an (overt or null) Q.

•A noun/pronoun expression is assigned case by closest case-assigning head above it (i.e. c-commanding it)

•A finite C assigns nominative case, infinitival for/for assigns accusative case, and the null C ø in control clauses assigns null case

Reading for this lecture:

Radford (2008) chapter 3.

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