230185 Generative Syntax and Parasitic Gaps (S) (WiSe 2026/2027)

This seminar is divided into two parts. The first part offers an introduction to Generative Syntax, particularly Minimalist Syntax. We will work through the core concepts of generative syntax under the Minimalist Program, which include: morphosyntactic features and agreement, constituency and hierarchical structures, thematic roles, clausal structure, and the various functional categories (DP, TP, CP), locality, and A/A’-movements.

In the second part of this seminar, we use these core concepts and discuss the parasitic gap construction (PGs) from a theoretical and empirical perspective. In PGs, we have a configuration where a gap (=__t) created by syntactic movement (e.g. fronting of a wh-word) licenses an additional, unexpected gap in an island for movement, often an adverbial clause (cf. (1d). The parasitic gap is unexpected because it doesn't have a licenser of its own and because normally such gaps cannot occur in certain syntactic contexts, like example adverbial clauses (cf. 1c).

(1) a. Which paper did you file __t?
b. Which paper did you file __t without reading it?
c. *Which paper did you file it without reading ___t?
d. Which paper did you file __t without reading ___pg?

Interestingly, parasitic gap constructions do not occur in natural speech, yet speakers of the various languages where they occur find them grammatical. The construction comes with an abundance of curious properties, making them an excellent testing ground for various syntactic theories.

Bibliography

Adger, David (2003). “Core Syntax: A Minimalist Approach” Oxford University Press.

(More literature will be announced in the beginning of the course.)