Focus, Presupposition and Light Predicate Raising in East and Southeast Asia

Author: Simpson A.

Source: Journal of East Asian Linguistics, Volume 10, Number 2, April 2001 , pp. 89-128(40)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

In a group of genetically unrelated and otherwise fully regular head- initial SVO languages a particular modal verb is consistently found to occur in predicate-final position, posing a strong empirical challenge to the Universal Base Hypothesis argued for in Cinque (1999). Detailed investigation indicates that the surface forms are however derived from fully regular underlying structures via a process of focus- driven light predicate raising. Cross-linguistic variation in the paradigm then shows that the basic modal structure is currently in different stages of development in the languages investigated. In Cantonese in particular it is argued that the trigger for VP-raising has now become fully fossilized and no longer reflects its original motivation. The paper concludes that certain movement operations may in general occur without any clearly understandable synchronic trigger. Formally, Chomsky's 'strong categorial/EPP features' are suggested to correspond precisely to this type of movement whose original motivation has weakened and become hidden during the course of language change.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Linguistics, SOAS, University of London, Russell Sq, London WC1H 0XG, U.K. E-mail: as4@soas.ac.uk

Publication date: 2001-04-01