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Information Structure, Syntax and Intonational Properties of Multiple Wh ‐Questions
Author(s) -
Hosono Mayumi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
studia linguistica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.187
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1467-9582
pISSN - 0039-3193
DOI - 10.1111/stul.12016
Subject(s) - syntax , linguistics , information structure , perspective (graphical) , reading (process) , computer science , syntactic structure , component (thermodynamics) , artificial intelligence , philosophy , physics , thermodynamics
I discuss multiple wh ‐questions from the perspective of information structure. I argue that information‐structural effects differ between multiple wh ‐questions with a pair‐list answer reading and ones with a single‐answer reading, thus the way of deriving them in narrow syntax differs too. I claim that the spelled‐out positions of wh ‐phrases are solely determined in the phonological component, specifically by the intonational properties of individual languages. I also argue that the Superiority Effect is derived from a conflicting pitch pattern caused by in‐situ monosyllabic wh ‐subjects and no longer problematic in the current phase framework.