[Asymmetric Pair-Merger Analysis in English Preposition Stranding]

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Generative Grammar
• Syntactic Theory

Background:

• A well-known grammatical contrast exists between arguments and adjuncts in Wh-Questions involving preposition stranding.
• Previous analyses within Generative Grammar have addressed this contrast.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain the argument-adjunct contrast in preposition stranding of Wh-Questions.
• To demonstrate the applicability of recent minimalist analyses, specifically the Labeling Algorithm (LA) and external Pair-Merger, to this contrast.
• To account for the grammaticality of heavy DP shift (HDPS) and parasitic gap (PG) constructions within the proposed framework.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the Labeling Algorithm (LA) and external Pair-Merger analysis.
• Applying assumptions from Phase Theory.
• Employing the null operator (NOp) analysis.

Main Results:

• The proposed minimalist framework adequately explains the argument-adjunct contrast in Wh-Questions.
• The analysis successfully accounts for the grammaticality of heavy DP shift (HDPS) constructions.
• The null operator (NOp) analysis proves effective for parasitic gap (PG) constructions.

Conclusions:

• The Labeling Algorithm and external Pair-Merger provide a robust analysis of preposition stranding in Wh-Questions.
• The framework extends to explain related syntactic phenomena like HDPS and PG constructions.
• This research contributes to the understanding of minimalist syntactic theory and its explanatory power.