Passivization, reconstruction and edge phenomena: connecting English and Japanese nominalizations

• Published in: Natural language and linguistic theory Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 137 - 159
• Main Authors: van Hout, Angeliek, Kamiya, Masaaki, Roeper, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-02-2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adjectives; Ambiguity; Argument structure; Asymmetry; Clauses; Descriptive studies and applied theories; Dissertations & theses; English; Freezing; Grammatical clauses; Japanese language; Lexical quantifiers; Linguistics; Minimalist program; Motivation; Natural Language Processing (NLP); Nominalization; Noun phrases; Philosophy of Language; Reading; Sentence structure; Social Sciences; Syntax; Teachers; Theme; Massachusetts; Scope freezing; Reconstruction; English; Nominalization; Covert movement; Passivization; Quantifier scope; Japanese; Movement; Syntax
• ISSN: 0167-806X; 1573-0859
• DOI: 10.1007/s11049-012-9184-2

We establish surprising effects of scope freezing in English nomináis that are unambiguously passive, and show parallels with scope freezing in Japanese sa 'extent' nominals. We argue that passive movement is an abstract operation inside these English nominalizations (-able plus -ity and -ed plus -ness, and optionally in -tion). In addition we contribute various arguments for a unified structure of English and Japanese nominalizations with two specifier positions—one A'-position and one A-position—with movement from the object position via the lower specifier to the higher specifier position. Our data lead us not only to extend the notion of edge features in Minimalism to nominalizations, but also to claim that these features are subject to (overt or covert) movement. Our analysis of passivization in nominalizations also pertains to passive clauses, as it reveals a more abstract nature of passive than the generally accepted theory of sentential passive claims. The motivation for passive movement is not simply to satisfy Case requirements. Rather, "focalization" of the Theme argument to the edge triggers movement in passive nominals and clauses alike.