Null tense Sept. 19, 2012 – Day 10Introduction to Syntax

ANTH 3590/7590

Harry Howard

Tulane University

Course management

http://www.tulane.edu/~howard/ANTH3590/

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ReviewNull auxiliaries

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THE ARGUMENT

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§3.4 NULL T IN FINITE CLAUSES

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NULL AUX > NULL T

Hypothesis: All finite clauses are TPs headed by an overt or null T constituent, which is the locus of the tense properties of a clause.

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TP

T’PRNshe

VPTdoes

NPsyntax

Venjoy

TP

T’PRNshe

VPTAf3sPres

NPsyntax

Venjoy

Affix hopping

Remember what we said about semantic and phonological components. At PF, an unattached affix Af is lowered onto the

head of the complement of the constituent that contains Af. (#26)

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T’PRNshe

VPTdoes

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TP

T’PRNshe

VPTAf3sPres

NPsyntax

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§3.5 NULL T IN INFINITIVE CLAUSES

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Hypothesis

All finite & infinitival clauses are TPs headed by an overt or null T constituent.

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T’PRNshe

VPTAf3sPres

TPVwant

T’PRNPRO

VPTto

NPsyntax

Venjoy

BARE INFINITIVES

Bare infinitives, #33, must have a null Ta) #I have never known [Tom criticise anyone]b) A reporter saw [Senator Sleaze leave Benn’s Bunny

Bar]c) You mustn’t let [the pressure get to you]

Some have counterparts with toa. Tom has never been known [to criticize anyone]b. Senator Sleaze was seen [to leave Benny’s Bunny Bar]

Some had counterparts with toa. I saw [her coral lips to move] (Shakespeare)b. What would you have me to do? “

Contraction/cliticizationa. I can’t let you have my passport.b. *I can’t let you’ve my passport.

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TP

T’PRNyou

VPTmust

TPVlet

T’PRNMary

VP

NPsyntax

Venjoy

You must let [Mary enjoy syntax]

note to self

There was enough time left over to continue on to null C.

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Q2MIN = 5.0

AVG = 7.9

MAX = 10.0

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NEXT TIME§3.6 Null complementizers

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