Extraction, movement and dependency theory
My aim in this thesis is to explore the potential of a dependency-based theory of syntax to account for extraction phenomena in English. Dependency grammars differ from constituency-based theories in expressing syntactic structure through direct relations between words rather than through their participation in phrase structure. However, whereas the majority of syntactic theories employing a phrase structure formalism have relatively well-developed accounts of extraction, dependency-based accounts have, in comparison, been virtually non-existent. This is surprising given that extraction phenomena constitute a key body of data, and an important test of a theory's capacity to account for long-distance syntactic relations. In order to account for these data theories have often suggested complex analyses involving multiple levels of representation and syntactic movement. However, in this thesis I hope to show that a monostratal theory of dependency with no such process of syntactic movement can provide a plausible and adequate account of extraction, which may compete on an equal footing with more complex approaches advanced in constituency-based theories. After presenting a wide range of extraction data in the
Kreps, Christian
Linguistics
Extraction, movement and dependency theory. My aim in this thesis is to explore the potential of a dependency-based theory of syntax to account for extraction phenomena in English. Dependency grammars differ from constituency-based theories in expressing syntactic structure through direct relations between words rather than through their participation in phrase structure. However, whereas the majority of syntactic theories employing a phrase structure formalism have relatively well-developed accounts of extraction, dependency-based accounts have, in comparison, been virtually non-existent. This is surprising given that extraction phenomena constitute a key body of data, and an important test of a theory's capacity to account for long-distance syntactic relations. In order to account for these data theories have often suggested complex analyses involving multiple levels of representation and syntactic movement. However, in this thesis I hope to show that a monostratal theory of dependency with no such process of syntactic movement can provide a plausible and adequate account of extraction, which may compete on an equal footing with more complex approaches advanced in constituency-based theories. After presenting a wide range of extraction data in the
extraction movement dependency theory aim_explore potential dependency_based theory syntax account extraction phenomena english dependency_grammar differ constituency based theory express syntactic_structure direct relation word rather participation phrase_structure however whereas majority syntactic theory employ phrase_structure formalism relatively_well developed account extraction dependency_based account comparison virtually non_existent surprise give extraction phenomenon constitute key body data important test theory capacity account long_distance syntactic relation order account_data theory often suggest complex analysis involve multiple_level representation syntactic movement however hope_show theory dependency process syntactic_movement provide plausible adequate account extraction may compete equal footing complex approach advance constituency based theory present wide_range extraction data