Deriving the Wh-QP Interaction Derivationally

Abstract

It is well-known that the interaction of a wh-phrase and a quantifier gives rise to different types of answers: single answer, pair-list answer and functional answer. In this paper, we support Chierchia's (1991) claim that the pair-list answer, as well as functional answer, can only arise when a universal quantifier binds a wh-variable. However, we argue that the wh-variable must be in a case position and the binding possibility between a universal quantifier and a functional variable can only hold derivationally at a phase level. The proposed analysis suggests that single answers arise when the wh-phrase c-commands the quantifier. This leads to the conclusion that pair-list answers and functional answers are captured derivationally, whereas single answers are captured representationally.