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On the syntax of relative clauses in Korean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Chung-Hye Han*
Affiliation:
Simon Fraser University
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Abstract

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There are two main approaches to the syntax of Korean relative clauses: the operator-movement analysis and the operator-binding analysis. Although the predictions made by the two analyses are clear, no consensus is found in the literature regarding the two approaches, as there is disagreement on what the facts are. This situation thus calls for adopting a controlled experimental methodology to obtain the relevant data. In this article, I present findings from two magnitude estimation task experiments that support the operator-movement analysis. Experiment 1 tested whether a subject gap can occur in islands in relative clauses and whether it can be replaced with an overt pronoun, and Experiment 2 tested whether an object gap can occur in islands in relative clauses and whether it can be replaced with an overt pronoun. In both experiments, a gap could not occur in an island and could not be replaced with an overt pronoun. According to these findings, relativization into islands is ruled out in Korean, and thus the operator-movement analysis is supported.

Résumé

Résumé

Il existe deux approches principales concernant la syntaxe des propositions relatives en coréen : l’analyse du mouvement de l’opérateur et l’analyse du liage par l’opérateur. Même si les prédictions résultant des deux analyses sont claires, on ne trouve aucun consensus dans la littérature concernant les deux approches, parce il y désaccord quant aux faits. Cette situation demande donc l’adoption d’une méthodologie expérimentale contrôlée pour obtenir les données pertinentes. Dans cet article, je présente les résultats de deux expériences de tâches d’estimation de magnitude qui appuient l’analyse du mouvement de l’opérateur. L’expérience 1 vérifiait la possibilité d’une case vide de sujet dans les îlots dans les propositions relatives et la possibilité de la remplacer par un pronom non nul; l’expérience 2 vérifiait la possibilité d’une case vide d’objet dans des îlots dans des propositions relatives et la possibilité de la remplacer par un pronom non nul. Dans les deux expériences, une case vide ne pouvait exister dans un îlot ni ne pouvait être remplacée par un pronom non nul. Selon ces résultats, la relativisation dans des îlots est exclue en coréen et donc l’analyse du mouvement de l’opérateur est appuyée.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 2013

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