Speaker: Zachary Feldcamp (MIT)
Title: Fragment answers in subject positions
Time: Tuesday, October 27, 1-2 PM
Location: 32-D461
Abstract:
Whereas the syntax of fragment answers is typically discussed in root contexts, it has been observed that they may also occur as complements of bridge verbs (Temmerman 2013) and as predicates in a copular clause (Weir 2017). In this work-in-progress talk I consider the distribution of fragments in subject position, such as the PP fragment in (1B).
(1) Q. Where should we put the pie?
A. On the table would be a good idea.
Approximately means: “For us to put the pie on the table would be a good idea.”I show that such “fragment subjects” present a paradox. On the one hand, fragment subjects behave like fragments elsewhere in exhibiting connectivity for case and binding, indicating covert clausal structure. On the other hand, they are more like gerunds than clauses (i) in freely allowing embedding and (ii) disallowing it-extraposition. The puzzle is that gerunds in DP-selecting complement positions do not generally permit fragments, indicating that ellipsis of gerunds is not a freely available operation. Various approaches to this puzzle are discussed.