(Un)Interpretable Neg in Comp

Idan Landau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article explores the possibility that the distinction between interpretable (valued) and uninterpretable (unvalued) features has grammatical manifestations beyond its role in feature checking. I argue that both selection and lexical insertion are sensitive to this distinction; thus, a head may determine not only which features its complement must bear but also whether they should be interpretable or not. Empirical consequences are explored in Hebrew, where infinitival complements to negative verbs ('refrain', 'prevent') display a number of surprising syntax-semantics correlations.Those are traced to the operation of negative features in the Comp position. The analysis also provides insight into the recalcitrant prevent DP from V-ing construction in English.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)465-492
Number of pages28
JournalLinguistic Inquiry
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2002

Keywords

  • Infinitives
  • Lexical insertion
  • Negation
  • Negative complementizer
  • Selection
  • Uninterpretable features

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '(Un)Interpretable Neg in Comp'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this