A′-movement restrictions in Igbo reanalyzed
Keywords: syntax, morphosyntax, left periphery, A-bar movement, Igbo, Niger-Congo
TL;DR: Certain Igbo clauses where the morpheme e/a surfaces recruit higher structure that blocks both A'-extraction and embedding in subjunctives, and results in different positions for clitic and non-clitic subjects.
Abstract: This paper provides a novel analysis for A$'$-extraction bans in Igbo clauses which involve a preverbal harmonizing morpheme e/a. We argue that clauses with e/a which ban extraction involve a CP-layer, which is in competition with the layer required in A$'$-movement. Our analysis of e/a captures its co-occurrence with A$'$-extraction restrictions, and also predicts when its appearance does not correspond with an A$'$-extraction restriction. We point to several systematic differences between clauses which do and do not permit extraction including the availability of embedding within subjunctives and the distribution of clitic and non-clitic subjects. Our analysis brings Igbo in line with a broader observation within the Niger-Congo language family that A$'$-extraction is restricted out of certain clause types due competition in the left periphery.
Submission Number: 269
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