Head movement and negation in English

Abstract

This paper has two main aims: to argue for a third negation position (Echo) and to introduce and defend a ‘soft constraint’ solution to the problem of the ‘displacement’ of a head relative to negation. We argue that an adequate account of the position of various heads in relation to negation needs first to establish the LF positions of these heads and then to determine the reasons for the PF displacement of some heads. Scope of modals and adverbs with respect to negation reveals that there must be three negation/polarity positions: Pol[ neg], one above this (Echo[neg]) and one below (Adv[neg]). There are two modal positions, one above and one below Pol. PF positioning of the heads is determined partly by what morphophonological combinations are available, and partly by a set of soft constraints. Corroborating evidence is provided from Basque, Catalan and Italian.

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