The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo
In many languages, a subject/non-subject Ā-extraction asymmetry can be observed: While non-subject extraction is unproblematic, long extraction of the subject requires repair strategies. This phenomenon is known as the <i>that</i>-trace effect. Two broad types of approaches to this effec...
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2024-10-01
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| author | Mary Amaechi Doreen Georgi |
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| description | In many languages, a subject/non-subject Ā-extraction asymmetry can be observed: While non-subject extraction is unproblematic, long extraction of the subject requires repair strategies. This phenomenon is known as the <i>that</i>-trace effect. Two broad types of approaches to this effect have been proposed in the literature: (a) structural accounts that prohibit subject extraction in the syntax; (b) surface-oriented PF accounts according to which nothing blocks long subject movement in the syntax, but a surface filter prohibits the output string where a trace follows the complementizer. In this paper, we argue for a syntactic cause of the effect in Igbo (Benue-Congo, Nigeria). The empirical evidence centers around the distribution of resumptive pronouns in the language. We show that Igbo has all the ingredients required for a PF approach to the <i>that</i>-trace effect (viz., long Ā-movement and trace spell-out); nevertheless, it does not apply them to enable long subject extraction but rather resorts to prolepsis (among other strategies). Further evidence against a PF account comes from the impossibility of short subject extraction. Finally, we provide evidence from subextraction from subjects for an antilocality component underlying the subject extraction restriction in Igbo. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-444da50f60d74e88b97e07a559fbd0c62025-08-20T02:10:54ZengMDPI AGLanguages2226-471X2024-10-0191032410.3390/languages9100324The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in IgboMary Amaechi0Doreen Georgi1Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515 Ilorin, NigeriaDepartment of Linguistics, Universität Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyIn many languages, a subject/non-subject Ā-extraction asymmetry can be observed: While non-subject extraction is unproblematic, long extraction of the subject requires repair strategies. This phenomenon is known as the <i>that</i>-trace effect. Two broad types of approaches to this effect have been proposed in the literature: (a) structural accounts that prohibit subject extraction in the syntax; (b) surface-oriented PF accounts according to which nothing blocks long subject movement in the syntax, but a surface filter prohibits the output string where a trace follows the complementizer. In this paper, we argue for a syntactic cause of the effect in Igbo (Benue-Congo, Nigeria). The empirical evidence centers around the distribution of resumptive pronouns in the language. We show that Igbo has all the ingredients required for a PF approach to the <i>that</i>-trace effect (viz., long Ā-movement and trace spell-out); nevertheless, it does not apply them to enable long subject extraction but rather resorts to prolepsis (among other strategies). Further evidence against a PF account comes from the impossibility of short subject extraction. Finally, we provide evidence from subextraction from subjects for an antilocality component underlying the subject extraction restriction in Igbo.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/9/10/324<i>that</i>-trace effectresumptionprolepsisanti-localityreflexes of movementIgbo |
| spellingShingle | Mary Amaechi Doreen Georgi The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo Languages <i>that</i>-trace effect resumption prolepsis anti-locality reflexes of movement Igbo |
| title | The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo |
| title_full | The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo |
| title_fullStr | The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo |
| title_full_unstemmed | The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo |
| title_short | The <i>That</i>-Trace Effect—A Surface or a Deep Island Phenomenon? Evidence from Resumption and Prolepsis in Igbo |
| title_sort | i that i trace effect a surface or a deep island phenomenon evidence from resumption and prolepsis in igbo |
| topic | <i>that</i>-trace effect resumption prolepsis anti-locality reflexes of movement Igbo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/9/10/324 |
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