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Part of
Topics in Theoretical Asian Linguistics: Studies in honor of John B. Whitman
Edited by Kunio Nishiyama, Hideki Kishimoto and Edith Aldridge
[Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today 250] 2018
► pp. 73–96

Chapter 4
Some asymmetries of long distance scope assignment in Sinhala

| Kobe University

Sinhala is classified as a wh-in-situ language; wh-phrases do not undergo movement, and most typically, their scope is determined relative to the (LF) position of a separable Q element associated with them. Nevertheless, some wh-phrases are not associated with separable Q elements and in such cases, the scope of wh-phrases is determined by a null operator base-generated in the local Spec-CP. In pseudo-cleft constructions, different conditions apply to null operator insertion, since a null operator is inserted in the local Spec-CP if true adjuncts (reason and manner adjuncts) are placed in focus position. I argue that when null operator insertion takes place, no A′-movement is implemented, so that the host wh-phrases are not allowed to have long distance construal. The difference in conditions on null operator insertion give rise to four distinct patterns of wh-questioning in wh-focus and pseudo-cleft constructions.

Keywords: wh-in-situ, Q element, null operator insertion, wh-questioning, pseudo-clefting, Sinhala
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2. Wh-constructions with and without pseudo-clefting
    • 2.1General characteristics
    • 2.2Pseudo-clefting
    • 2.3Island effects and overt particle movement
  • 3.The peculiar scope phenomena
    • 3.1 Wh-phrases with non-separable Q
    • 3.2Null operator strategy in the pseudo-cleft construction
    • 3.3Scope asymmetries
    • 3.4The Japanese case
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgment
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 12 December 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.250.05kis
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