A modal ambiguity in for-infinitival relative clauses

This squib presents two puzzles related to an ambiguity found in for-infinitival relative clauses (FIRs). FIRs invariably receive a modal interpretation even in the absence of any overt modal verb. The modal interpretation seems to come in two distinct types, which can be paraphrased by finite relative clauses employing the modal auxiliaries should and could. The two puzzles presented here arise because the availability of the two readings is constrained by factors that are not otherwise known to affect the interpretation of a relative clause. Specifically, we show, first, that “strong” determiners require the FIR to be interpreted as a SHOULD-relative while “weak” determiners allow both interpretations (the Determiner-Modal Generalization). Secondly, we observe that the COULD-interpretation requires a raising (internally headed) structure for the FIR, while the SHOULD-interpretation is compatible with either a raising or a more standard matching (externally headed) structure (the Raising/Matching Generalization)

Semantic conditions of surface structure.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Foreign Literatures and Linguistics. Thesis. 1974. Ph.D.Bibliography: leaves 132-134.Ph.D

A Note on Someone (Else): An Island Repair Solution and Its Competitors

It is shown that sluicing sentences involving the unexpected absence of "else" modification for the wh-remnant (Barros 2012) are best analyzed as instances of island repair under ellipsis, specifically, as repair of the Coordinate Structure Constraint. Two alternative analyses are discussed, namely, Barros´ solution in terms of a predicative strategy and a potential mutual entailment approach à la Merchant 2001, and it is shown that they have to face serious empirical challenges.Fil: Saab, Andrés Leandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Review of “Referential CPs and DPs:An operator movement account” by Liliane Haegeman and Barbara Ürögdi

L'articolo contiene alcune considerazioni riguardanti gli effetti di intervenzione nelle frasi relative e fattive del bulgaro, mostrando che a seconda del tipo di operatore gli effetti possono essere di natura diversa