Minimalist C/case

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halldór Ármann Sigurðsson

This article discusses A-licensing and case from a minimalist perspective, pursuing the idea that argument NPs cyclically enter a number of A-relations, rather than just a single one, resulting in event licensing, case licensing, and φ-licensing. While argument case commonly reflects Voice-v relations, canonical A-movement is driven by higher elements, either in the C-T system or in a superordinate v-system (in ECM constructions). In addition, there is a distinction to be drawn between the triggering of A-movement, by for example C, and the licensing of the landing site, by for instance T, C-probing leading to tucking-in into Spec,T. Much of the evidence presented comes from quirky case constructions in Icelandic and from ECM and raising constructions in Icelandic and English. It is argued that T in ECM constructions inherits φ-licensing from the matrix vφ, regardless of the case properties of vφ.

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Longenbaugh ◽  
Maria Polinsky

Abstract Modern generative linguistic theory furnishes a variety of general principles that appear to be at work in the grammar of all the world’s languages. One of the most basic and uncontroversial of these principles is that Agree/Move operates according to the constraint Attract Closest, which dictates that the closest suitable goal must be the target for the relevant operation (Rizzi 1990; Chomsky 1995, 2000; Richards 1998). The Polynesian language Niuean (Tongic subgroup, predicate initial word order, ergative-absolutive case system) presents a well known challenge to the universality of {Attract Closest}. The challenge manifests in a variety of distinct constructions in Niuean, but the best known case involves an operation first documented by Seiter (1980), which he terms “raising.” Specifically, Niuean raising appears to license an A-type dependency between the subject position of the matrix clause and the object position of an immediately embedded clause. This is illustrated in (1), where the semantic object of the embedded subjunctive clause, Sione, appears as the syntactic subject of the matrix predicate maeke. (1) To maeke a Sione$_{1}$ [ke lagomatai he ekekafo $t_{1}$]. fut possible abs Sione sbj help erg doctor ‘It’s possible the doctor can help Sione.’ (lit.: Sione is possible that the doctor help [him]) Granting that the filler-gap dependency in (1) is A-type, this is both a clear violation of {Attract closest} (Rizzi 1992; Chomsky 1995; Richards 1998) and a typological anomaly. Our aim in this paper is to argue that such apparent violations of {Attract Closest} are only that. Specifically, we show first that the challenge inherent in Seiter’s raising construction is pervasive throughout the language: in general, objects are accessible to syntactic operations even if the intervening clause-mate subject is also a licit target. In other words, Niuean clause-mate subjects and objects are equally accessible to syntactic operations. Then, we argue that this typologically uncommon equal-accessibility follows from the convergence of several otherwise independently attested operations: (i) a configurational system of case licensing, with a $v$P as the case computation domain; (ii) obligatory object shift to Spec($v$P); (iii) an EPP on T triggering V/VP-raising rather than DP externalization. The resulting basic clause structure is then as below, so that Niuean adheres to standard locality constraints. (2)


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-140
Author(s):  
Niina Ning Zhang

Abstract In Mandarin Chinese, the string of three overt elements in a row, a locative, a verb, and a nominal, asserts the existence of the entity denoted by the nominal in the location. This paper argues that the verb is contained in an adjunct, whereas the locative in its base position and the nominal establish a matrix predication relation. Thus, instead of the overt verb, the head of the matrix predicate of the construction is null. Moreover, a new analysis is provided to explain the obligatory argument sharing between the verb and the matrix predication of the construction. Furthermore, the paper argues that the agent of a transitive verb in certain types of embedded clauses needs to be Case-licensed by either the v of the selecting verb, as in an ECM construction, or a local c-commanding functional element, such as a complementizer, as in the English infinitive for construction. This Case-licensing explains why the transitive verb in the string has no agent. The research shows that the syntactic strategies to license abstract Cases in Chinese are similar to the ones found in other languages. Finally, the paper argues that the post-verbal -zhe is an adessive marker when it occurs in a non-progressive context.


2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Syrett ◽  
Jeffrey Lidz

We revisit the purported locality constraint on Quantifier Raising (QR) by investigating children's and adults' interpretation of antecedent-contained-deletion (ACD) sentences, where the interpretation depends on the landing site targeted by QR out of an embedded clause. When ACD is embedded in a nonfinite clause, 4-year-old children and adults access both the embedded and the matrix interpretations. When ACD is embedded in a finite clause, and the matrix interpretation is generally believed to be ungrammatical, children and even some adults access both readings. These findings allow for the possibility that the source of QR's reputed locality constraint may instead be extragrammatical, and they provide insight into the development of the human sentence parser.


2018 ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
О. М. Тугай

The paper deals with the main peculiarities of syntactic compatability within matrix volitional verbs finite complements of complex constructions in the framework of generative syntax within the Minimalist Program of N. Chomsky using the leading transformational rules such as projection principle, a-movement. The article outlines the ways of that/wh-correlatives origin inside subordinate relationship in the head-specifier location in [Spec, CP] of the functional projection CP. We postulate generation and contact location of embedded finite clauses directly after principal clauses by way of that/wh-element movement up left where its landing site occurs to be the clausal complement specifier [Spec, CP] occupying the head place of the functional projection CP which c-commands over the whole complement and its internal constituents in the node of a complementizer phrase. The article provides special fundamental arguments for proving that CP forms an independent complementizer phrase for expanding of the the matrix verb VP lexical projection function. The paper considers main grammatical categories and syntactic functions of subordinate finite clauses embedded in constructions of higher level as indirect statements, directives or questions in the function of a direct object and a complement. Special attention is focused on defining finite sentencial complements types as declarative and interrogative ones depending on the semantics of the principal verbs of willing. Namely, we distinguish subordinate type clauses as: 1) a declarative type that actualizes indirect statements (hope, intend, resolve, persuade, promise, warn) and indirect directives (ask, beg, charge, appoint, require, command, instruct, order) of volitional predicates; 2) an interrogative type that realizes indirect questions of ask, advise, choose, promise, instruct predicates. The choice of a complementizer also influences on the grammatical category of an embedded sentencial complement. Hereby, conjunction that preferably introduces a declarative type whereas wh-correlative points to the interrogative categorial function of a finite content clause.


Author(s):  
Odell T. Minick ◽  
Hidejiro Yokoo

Mitochondrial alterations were studied in 25 liver biopsies from patients with alcoholic liver disease. Of special interest were the morphologic resemblance of certain fine structural variations in mitochondria and crystalloid inclusions. Four types of alterations within mitochondria were found that seemed to relate to cytoplasmic crystalloids.Type 1 alteration consisted of localized groups of cristae, usually oriented in the long direction of the organelle (Fig. 1A). In this plane they appeared serrated at the periphery with blind endings in the matrix. Other sections revealed a system of equally-spaced diagonal lines lengthwise in the mitochondrion with cristae protruding from both ends (Fig. 1B). Profiles of this inclusion were not unlike tangential cuts of a crystalloid structure frequently seen in enlarged mitochondria described below.


Author(s):  
R. A. Ricks ◽  
Angus J. Porter

During a recent investigation concerning the growth of γ' precipitates in nickel-base superalloys it was observed that the sign of the lattice mismatch between the coherent particles and the matrix (γ) was important in determining the ease with which matrix dislocations could be incorporated into the interface to relieve coherency strains. Thus alloys with a negative misfit (ie. the γ' lattice parameter was smaller than the matrix) could lose coherency easily and γ/γ' interfaces would exhibit regularly spaced networks of dislocations, as shown in figure 1 for the case of Nimonic 115 (misfit = -0.15%). In contrast, γ' particles in alloys with a positive misfit could grow to a large size and not show any such dislocation arrangements in the interface, thus indicating that coherency had not been lost. Figure 2 depicts a large γ' precipitate in Nimonic 80A (misfit = +0.32%) showing few interfacial dislocations.


Author(s):  
S. Mahajan ◽  
M. R. Pinnel ◽  
J. E. Bennett

The microstructural changes in an Fe-Co-V alloy (composition by wt.%: 2.97 V, 48.70 Co, 47.34 Fe and balance impurities, such as C, P and Ni) resulting from different heat treatments have been evaluated by optical metallography and transmission electron microscopy. Results indicate that, on air cooling or quenching into iced-brine from the high temperature single phase ϒ (fcc) field, vanadium can be retained in a supersaturated solid solution (α2) which has bcc structure. For the range of cooling rates employed, a portion of the material appears to undergo the γ-α2 transformation massively and the remainder martensitically. Figure 1 shows dislocation topology in a region that may have transformed martensitically. Dislocations are homogeneously distributed throughout the matrix, and there is no evidence for cell formation. The majority of the dislocations project along the projections of <111> vectors onto the (111) plane, implying that they are predominantly of screw character.


Author(s):  
E. Keyhani

The matrix of biological membranes consists of a lipid bilayer into which proteins or protein aggregates are intercalated. Freeze-fracture techni- ques permit these proteins, perhaps in association with lipids, to be visualized in the hydrophobic regions of the membrane. Thus, numerous intramembrane particles (IMP) have been found on the fracture faces of membranes from a wide variety of cells (1-3). A recognized property of IMP is their tendency to form aggregates in response to changes in experi- mental conditions (4,5), perhaps as a result of translational diffusion through the viscous plane of the membrane. The purpose of this communica- tion is to describe the distribution and size of IMP in the plasma membrane of yeast (Candida utilis).Yeast cells (ATCC 8205) were grown in synthetic medium (6), and then harvested after 16 hours of culture, and washed twice in distilled water. Cell pellets were suspended in growth medium supplemented with 30% glycerol and incubated for 30 minutes at 0°C, centrifuged, and prepared for freeze-fracture, as described earlier (2,3).


Author(s):  
Lee D. Peachey ◽  
Clara Franzini-Armstrong

The effective study of biological tissues in thick slices of embedded material by high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) requires highly selective staining of those structures to be visualized so that they are not hidden or obscured by other structures in the image. A tilt pair of micrographs with subsequent stereoscopic viewing can be an important aid in three-dimensional visualization of these images, once an appropriate stain has been found. The peroxidase reaction has been used for this purpose in visualizing the T-system (transverse tubular system) of frog skeletal muscle by HVEM (1). We have found infiltration with lanthanum hydroxide to be particularly useful for three-dimensional visualization of certain aspects of the structure of the T- system in skeletal muscles of the frog. Specifically, lanthanum more completely fills the lumen of the tubules and is denser than the peroxidase reaction product.


Author(s):  
O.C. de Hodgins ◽  
K. R. Lawless ◽  
R. Anderson

Commercial polyimide films have shown to be homogeneous on a scale of 5 to 200 nm. The observation of Skybond (SKB) 705 and PI5878 was carried out by using a Philips 400, 120 KeV STEM. The objective was to elucidate the structural features of the polymeric samples. The specimens were spun and cured at stepped temperatures in an inert atmosphere and cooled slowly for eight hours. TEM micrographs showed heterogeneities (or nodular structures) generally on a scale of 100 nm for PI5878 and approximately 40 nm for SKB 705, present in large volume fractions of both specimens. See Figures 1 and 2. It is possible that the nodulus observed may be associated with surface effects and the structure of the polymers be regarded as random amorphous arrays. Diffraction patterns of the matrix and the nodular areas showed different amorphous ring patterns in both materials. The specimens were viewed in both bright and dark fields using a high resolution electron microscope which provided magnifications of 100,000X or more on the photographic plates if desired.


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