Malay tough movement, restructuring and the theory of phases
Nagarajan Selvanathan
May 2018
 

The primary objective of this paper is to discuss tough-movement (TM) in Malay where the embedded object undergoes long A-movement to the matrix clause, much like German TM as described by Wurmbrand (2001). However in Malay TM, the embedded clause must exhibit passive morphology. The secondary objective of this paper is to determine the source of this passive morphology and discuss its implications for restructuring. I argue that passive in Malay TM is an example of voice matching seen in restructuring contexts (Wurmbrand 2013, Wurmbrand & Shimamura 2017). However, I depart from Wurmbrand (2013) in an important manner. It is not restructuring per se that requires voice matching. Rather voice matching is only required in a restructuring context when the matrix T probes the embedded object. I then propose that the restructuring voice head can be fully or partially copied from the matrix voice head and that it is only a fully copied voice head that allows for phase extension (Den Dikken 2007). It is argued that this is what allows the matrix T to probe the embedded object without violating the PIC. Hindi long distance agreement is then shown to support this view of restructuring and phase extension.
Format: [ pdf ]
Reference: lingbuzz/004029
(please use that when you cite this article)
Published in: manuscript
keywords: a-movement, tough movement, restructuring, complex predicates, agreement, malay, syntax
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