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Finnish negation, the EPP feature and the valuation theory of morphosyntax

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2006

Pauli Brattico
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Siltavuorenpenger 20 C, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: Pauli.Brattico@Helsinki.fi, Saara.Huhmarniemi@Helsinki.fi
Saara Huhmarniemi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Siltavuorenpenger 20 C, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: Pauli.Brattico@Helsinki.fi, Saara.Huhmarniemi@Helsinki.fi

Abstract

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The Extended Projection Principle (EPP) has remained a controversial topic in generative grammar. This article proposes to derive the EPP from a generalized theory of nominal case and verbal agreement. According to the proposal presented in this article, morphosyntactic features such as case and verbal phi-features are valued uniformly by the closest asymmetrically c-commanding element, whereas the PF interface is constrained so as to prevent verbs from being valued nominal case and nominals by verbal phi-features. This constraint together with a new theory of valuation explains the appearance of the EPP. The theory is applied to the investigation of negative clauses in Finnish and other languages, Finnish (elliptical) non-finite negative clauses, expletive constructions, multiple wh-movement in a variety of languages, multiple agreement both in the finite and nominal domains, and asymmetries between finite and non-finite clauses.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press