Cyclic Spell-Out and VP-Movement Constructions

Abstract

Changguk Yim. 2004. Cyclic Spell-Out and VP-Movement Constructions. Korean Journal of Linguistics, 29-2, 261-280. This article provides a highly derivational account for the VP-movement constructions in English and Korean under the Cyclic Spell-Out system (Chomsky 2001a,b; Nissenbaum 2000). It will be proposed that the "size" of the moved constituent is different in the two languages. Such a difference brings about two contrasts; one is that English unaccusative verbs allow VP-movement, while Korean counterparts don't, and the other contrast is that in Korean, unergative verbs allow VP-movement, while unaccusative verbs don't. These contrasts are ascribed to the presence or absence of the EPP-feature on v, coupled with the presence or absence of verb-raising (V-to-v movement) in overt syntax. (Cornell University)