We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The morpho-syntax of silent wh-expressions in Wolof.
- Authors
Torrence, Harold
- Abstract
This paper analyzes the morphology and syntax of wh-expressions and agreeing complementizers in Wolof, an Atlantic language. I argue that Wolof possesses a set of null wh-expressions, in addition to a set of overt ones. The null wh-expressions occur in a relative clause-like construction in which they trigger agreement on a complementizer. I examine the properties of the null wh-expressions and compare them to their overt counterparts in Wolof. I provide evidence that the null wh-expressions, like the overt ones, move successive cyclically, and may trigger agreement on intermediate complementizers that occur in the movement pathway. I also compare the Wolof construction to a superficially similar complementizer agreement construction in the Bantu language Kinande, and to null operators in German and wh-drop in Dutch.
- Subjects
MORPHOSYNTAX; WOLOF language; MORPHOLOGY (Grammar); CLAUSES (Grammar); NANDE language
- Publication
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, 2012, Vol 30, Issue 4, p1147
- ISSN
0167-806X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11049-012-9175-3