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The relative clause resisting unification

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2024

Tong Wu Open the ORCID record for Tong Wu [Opens in a new window]  and
Haiping Long
Tong Wu*
Affiliation:
Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China
Haiping Long*
Affiliation:
Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, PR China
*
wu.tong.linguistics@hotmail.com
longhp@mail.sysu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Cinque (2020) presents a unified theory positing that various types of relative clauses (RCs) originate from a single, double-headed universal structure via raising or matching. The Frame Noun-Modifying Clause (FRC) as described and analyzed by Matsumoto et al. (2017a, 2017b) presents a significant challenge to Cinque's framework, as it does not conform to any of Cinque's identified RC types, which include amount RCs, kind(-defining) RCs, restrictive RCs and non-restrictive RCs. The FRC eludes derivation via the proposed matching or raising mechanisms. Determining the semantic link between the head noun and the FRC, as well as its external merger position, remains elusive. One might suggest that inserting additional material into the FRC, which incorporates a plausible internal head, could clarify their connection. This approach falls short of providing a systematic and coherent syntactic criterion, relying instead on semantic intuition that lacks operational reliability.

Résumé

Résumé

Cinque (2020) présente une théorie unifiée postulant que divers types de propositions relatives (PRs) proviennent d'une structure universelle à double tête, par déplacement ou appariement. La proposition de cadre de modification du nom (PCMN), telle que décrite et analysée par Matsumoto et al. (2017a, 2017b), représente un défi important pour le cadre de Cinque. Elle ne se conforme à aucun des types de PR identifiés par Cinque, qui comprennent les PRs de quantité, les PRs de genre, les PRs restrictives et les PRs non-restrictives. La PCMN échappe à la dérivation par les mécanismes d'appariement ou de déplacement proposés. Il demeure impossible de déterminer le lien sémantique entre le nom déterminé et la PCMN, ainsi que sa position de fusion externe. On pourrait suggérer que l'insertion de matériel supplémentaire dans la PCMN, qui intègre une tête interne plausible, pourrait clarifier leur connexion. Cette approche échoue à fournir un critère syntaxique systématique et cohérent, s'appuyant plutôt sur l'intuition sémantique, qui manque de fiabilité opérationnelle.

Keywords

Frame Relative Clauseraisingmatchingproposition de cadre de modification du nomdéplacementappariement
Type
Short/En bref
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 69 , Issue 2 , June 2024 , pp. 256 - 266
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2024

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