Eliciting focus-sensitive why-questions in Japanese

Authors

  • Kodai Aramaki Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, Japan Author
  • Kanako Ikeda Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Japan Author
  • Kyoko Yamakoshi Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Japan Author
  • Tomohiro Fujii Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, Japan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2020/11/0007/000422

Keywords:

focus, Japanese, question elicitation, why-question

Abstract

This study argues that in focus-sensitive why-questions in Japanese, the why-adjunct must precede its focus associate. We propose that this word order restriction naturally follows when the why-as-CP-modifier approach is applied to the Japanese construction under investigation. Furthermore, the paper reports the results of an elicitation experiment conducted to experimentally confirm this word order restriction.

References

Bromberger, S. 1992. On What We Know We Don’t Know: Explanation, Theory, Linguistics, and How Questions Shape Them. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Erlewine, M.Y. 2014. Movement out of Focus. PhD dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Fiengo, R. 1977. On trace theory. Linguistic Inquiry, 8(1), 35-61.

Jackendoff, R.S. 1972. Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Kawamura, T. 2007. Some Interactions of Focus and Focus Sensitive Elements. PhD dissertation, Stony Brook University.

Ko, H. 2005. Syntax of why-in-situ: Merge into [Spec, CP] in the overt syntax. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, 23(4), 867–916.

Rizzi, L. 1997. The fine structure of the left periphery. In L. Haegeman (ed.), Elements of Grammar: Handbook of Generative Syntax, 281–337. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

Rizzi, L. 2001. On the position “Int(errogative)” in the left periphery of the clause. In G. Cinque & G. Salvi (eds.), Current Studies in Italian Syntax: Essays Offered to Lorenzo Renzi, 267–286. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Rooth, M. 1992. A theory of focus interpretation. Natural Language Semantics, 1(1), 75-116.

Saito, M. 1989. Scrambling as semantically vacuous A′-movement. In M.R. Baltin & A.S. Kroch (eds.), Alternative Conceptions of Phrase Structure, 182-200. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Yoshida, M., Nakao, C., & Ortega-Santos, I. 2015. The syntax of why-stripping. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, 33(1), 323-370.

Downloads

Published

01-01-2020

How to Cite

Eliciting focus-sensitive why-questions in Japanese. (2020). Linguistic Proceedings Series, 11(1), 29-32. https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2020/11/0007/000422

Share

Similar Articles

1-10 of 120

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.