ǂThe ǂleft periphery of multiple wh-questions in Slovenian

Abstract

In this paper I focus on multiple wh-questions in Slovenian and argue for an analysis in which wh-phrases move to the extended left periphery of the sentence. Assuming the Cartographic approach, I consider the order of wh-phrases in Slovenian multiple wh-questions, which was previously described as free, e.g. Golden (1997). While I confirm that the order of wh-phrases in the left periphery is generally free, I show that there are some exceptions, e.g. zakaj ‘why’ and kako ‘how’ tend to precede other wh-phrases. In addition, I show that the order of wh-phrases with respect to focus and topic phrases is free, but that one wh-phrase needs to appear in a clause initial position for a question to get a true wh-question reading. Based on this, I propose that the clause initial wh-phrase moves to the Interrogative Projection, in the sense of Rizzi (2001a), and the remaining wh-phrases to Wh-Projections. Crucially, because wh-movement is not restricted by a requirement on chains, cf. Krapova & Cinque (2005), the order of wh-phrases is free.

Keywords

wh-questions;multiple wh-fronting;left periphery;syntax;cartography;Slovenian;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2016
Typology:	1.16 - Independent Scientific Component Part or a Chapter in a Monograph
Organization:	UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC:	81
COBISS:	4604155
Parent publication:	Formal studies in Slovenian syntax
Views:	3895
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