Doing without Edge Features: A Labeling Approach

Abstract

This paper deduces the peculiar aspects of adjunct clause control and parasitic gap formation from the Labeling Algorithm (Chomsky, 2013), coupled with chain composition (Chomsky, 1986), without resorting to edge features. In English and Brazilian Portuguese, adjunct clauses show language-particular behaviors concerning the control of their empty subjects, depending on whether the movement of a matrix wh-object takes place or not. In addition, parasitic gap constructions display well-known cross-clausal movement or merging of the two independent chains in the matrix and the adjunct clauses. This paper argues that when the matrix clause and the adjunct clause vPs are merged, they must be in a parallel state in terms of labeling before feeding chain composition between the two distinct chains in the vPs. Specifically, provided that Merge generates the labeling-wise parallel {unlabeled phrase, unlabeled phrase} or {labeled phrase, labeled phrase} configuration at one point of derivation, the two distinct chains involved within them can form a unified single chain. By establishing a precondition for the formation of chain composition in this way, the derivational steps of the movement involved in adjunct clause empty subject control and parasitic gap constructions can be properly constrained.