The Defective Copy Theory of Movement

Evidence from wh-constructions in Cape Verdean Creole

Author
Nélia Alexandre | University of Lisbon
HardboundAvailable
ISBN 9789027252647 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00
 
e-Book
ISBN 9789027274892 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00
 
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Within the framework of Chomsky’s Principles and Parameters Theory and the Minimalist Program, this work presents a detailed discussion of the different types of wh-question formation and relativization strategies in Cape Verdean Creole (Santiago variety), especially focusing on wh-movement of PPs. The book explores the Copy Theory of Movement, discussing a defective copy construction involving wh-movement of PPs which poses interesting theoretical questions as to how the defective copy is to be generated and form a chain with the relevant displaced wh-constituent. It is also shown that the defective copy strategy ([wh[PL]el [3SG]]) is distinct from resumption ([wh[PL]es [3PL]]) due to some properties of PPs in Cape Verdean Creole and to the nature of the pronominal element that occurs at the foot of the wh-chain. This book relates well with those on Cape Verdean Creole and highlights the need to look more closely at deeper syntactic issues in more creole languages, inspiring further comparative work amongst creole linguists.
[Creole Language Library, 41] 2012.  xvi, 249 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Table of Contents
“Nélia Alexandre’s book provides a comprehensive discussion of questions and relative clauses in Cape Verdean Creole (CVC). Clearly written and well argued for, the book is a nice example of how an in-depth investigation of a less studied language can provide theoretical insights regarding the architecture of the language faculty. Alexandre identifies and analyses a defective copy construction involving wh-movement of PPs which poses interesting theoretical questions as to how the defective copy is to be generated and form a chain with the relevant displaced wh-constituent. Given its empirical richness and theoretical soundness, Alexandre’s work is of relevance not only to readers interested in CVC grammar and creole languages, but also to readers interested in theoretical syntax and comparative linguistics in general.”
“Nelia Alexandre's volume is outstanding in many respects: It provides a careful, detailed, and exhaustive description of Cape Verdean Creole while making a significant contribution to current syntactic theory. I know of no other current work that provides such an in-depth analysis of interrogation, relativization and resumption strategies in the Cape Verdean language. This volume is a rare combination of an empirically rich study with a theoretically informed analysis. As a result, it is a must read for both communities of creolists and syntacticians and beyond them, for all linguists interested in Cape Verdean Creole in particular and lusophone creoles in general.”
Cited by

Cited by 4 other publications

Alexandre, Nélia & Rita Gonçalves
2018. Chapter 10. Language contact and variation in Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. In The Portuguese Language Continuum in Africa and Brazil [Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics, 20],  pp. 237 ff. DOI logo
Georgi, Doreen & Mary Amaechi
2023. Resumption in Igbo: Two types of resumptives, complex phi-mismatches, and dynamic deletion domains. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 41:3  pp. 961 ff. DOI logo
Hagemeijer, Tjerk, Rita Gonçalves & Nélia Alexandre
2024. Spatial Locative Relativization in Three African Varieties of Portuguese: Unity in Diversity and Diversity in Unity. Languages 9:3  pp. 83 ff. DOI logo
Perpiñán, Sílvia & Anna Cardinaletti
2024. Null-Prep as a systematic interlanguage phenomenon: Evidence from relative clauses, interrogatives, and sluicing constructions. Second Language Research 40:1  pp. 139 ff. DOI logo

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Subjects

Main BIC Subject

CFK: Grammar, syntax

Main BISAC Subject

LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General
ONIX Metadata
ONIX 2.1
ONIX 3.0
U.S. Library of Congress Control Number:  2011046460 | Marc record