19.1243, Qs: Subject/Object Asymmetry in wh- Questions

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LINGUIST List: Vol-19-1243. Sat Apr 12 2008. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 19.1243, Qs: Subject/Object Asymmetry in wh- Questions

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1)
Date: 05-Apr-2008
From: janet randall < randall at neu.edu >
Subject: Subject/Object Asymmetry in wh- Questions

 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:13:51
From: janet randall [randall at neu.edu]
Subject: Subject/Object Asymmetry in wh- Questions
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The object/subject wh-questions in (1) and (2) show an asymmetry in whether
they require do-support. Do is required in the object questions but it's
odd in the subject questions.

1. a. [What] did John find [t]?
    b. *[What] found John [t]? 
2. a. *[Who] did [t] find a hat?
    b. [Who] [t] found a hat?

Can anyone recommend a simple account of this for beginning undergraduates? 

Linguistic Field(s): Syntax






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