2013/12/05 by Arantzazu Elordieta · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · Social Sciences · Mathematics · #Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation #Phonetics and Phonology Research #Linguistic Variation and Morphology #Head (geology) #Complement (music) #Focus (optics) #Negation #Complementizer #Directionality #Left handed #Verb #Linguistics #Computer science #Mathematics #Pure mathematics #Artificial intelligence #Physics #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199684359.003.0011
openalex publication_date 2013/12/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Abstract This chapter evaluates the validity of the directionality parameter as opposed to a universal Spec–Head–Complement structure, by discussing some of the implications of the latter for a disharmonic OV language like Basque. The paper argues that assuming the Linear Correspondence Axiom (LCA) underlying Spec–Head–Complement structure it becomes problematic to derive neutral affirmative linear sequences involving complement PPs, manner adverbs and focus constructions. The data can be accounted for by adopting a modified version of the Head Parameter, according to which there is a split in head directionality corresponding to the CP-related status of the relevant head. Specifically, functional categories above FinP—negation, focus, topic, and polarity force—are head-initial, whereas projections lower in the structure are head-final. This locates the split in head directionality in the domain which is responsible for the interpretive properties associated with scope and discourse (Chomsky 2004, Rizzi 2007). It is shown that this idea captures the fact that V2 effects only arise in such contexts in Basque, by assuming that those left-peripheral heads bear EPP/Agree features as well as an unvalued V feature which attracts the finite verb.