Transcript Slide 1

(Adjunct) islands
and the finiteness effect
Dan Michel
Grant Goodall
UC San Diego
1
Islands
and
finiteness
Overview of talk
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument?
Exp. 6: Complement clauses
Finiteness effect everywhere?
What does it all mean?
About islands? About grammar and processing?
Islands
• Domains in which gap is not possible, despite
earlier filler
wh-phrase … [ … __ … ] …
*What did Mary eat pie [while John drank _ ]?
Two views of islands
Accumulation
Islands result from accumulation of several
independent processing difficulties (filler-gap
dependency, complex syntactic structure, etc.)
E.g. Kluender (1998, 2004), Hofmeister & Sag (2010)
Disruption
Islands result from otherwise unproblematic
element that may disrupt filler-gap dependency
(bounding node, intervening feature, etc.)
E.g. Ross (1967), Chomsky (1986), Rizzi (2004)
Things to keep in mind
• These two views are not mutually exclusive.
• Accumulation often associated with processing.
Disruption often associated with grammar.
But these associations
aren’t logically necessary.
Role of finiteness in islands
• Finiteness has been claimed to be important
for wh-islands:
a book which I can’t figure out…
a. [what to do about __]
b. ?? [what I should do about __]
Finiteness(from
effect:
Ross (1967))
Finite clause is
more resistant to gap.
Role of finiteness in islands
• And for subject islands:
We investigated what [the campaign…
a. ?*to preserve __ ] had harmed the forest.
b. *that preserved __ ] had harmed the forest
Finite clause is
more resistant (adapted
to gap. from Phillips (2006))
Role of finiteness in islands
• Adjunct islands are less often discussed. Many
have assumed there is no effect.
Who did John go home…
a. ?? [after kissing __]
b. * [after he kissed __]
Finite clause is
(See Szabolcsi
(2006),
Truswell (2011))
more
resistant
to gap?
How to view the finiteness effect?
Finiteness
Accumulation Intrinsically difficult for processing.
Islands result from accumulation
offiniteness
several effect
Should see
independent processingvery
difficulties
(filler-gap
generally.
dependency, complex syntactic
structure,
etc.)(2004),
Suggested
in Kluender
E.g. Kluender (1998, 2004), Hofmeister
Sag (2010)
Hofmeister &
(2007).
Finiteness
Disruption
Not intrinsically difficult.
Islands result from otherwise
unproblematic
Should see effect with some
element that may disrupt
filler-gap dependency
dependencies.
(bounding node, intervening
feature,inetc.)
Suggested
Cinque (1990), Manzini
E.g. Ross (1967), Chomsky (1986),
(2004)(2011).
(1992),Rizzi
Truswell
What accumulation looks like
Non-Ameliorating
Ameliorating
y/n-Q
Who did the carpenter
restore the
7
n.s.antique table after…
wh-Q
n.s.
y/n
he negotiated6with _?
negotiating with _?
y/n
y/n
5
Main
5.69 (1.09)
5.72 (1.07)
p = 0.68
Effect
4
***
Did the carpenter restore the antique table after…
Accumulation
3
he
wh
negotiated withwh
the
wh
2
1
buyer?
***
***negotiating
with the buyer?
What disruption looks like
Non-Ameliorating
y/n-Q
Ameliorating
Who did the carpenter
restore the
n.s.antique table after…
7
he
n.s.
negotiated6withy/n
_?
y/n
y/n
negotiating with _?
5
Main
5.69 (1.09)
5.72 (1.07)
p = 0.68
Effect
4
*** carpenter
Did the
restore the antique table after…
Disruption
wh-Q
3
he negotiated
wh
withwh
the
2
1
wh
buyer?
***
***negotiating
with the buyer?
Islands and finiteness
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument?
Exp. 6: Complement clauses
Finiteness effect everywhere?
What does it all mean?
About islands? About grammar and processing?
Format for experiments
• 195-220 participants, all UCSD students.
• Non-native or non-English-dominant speakers
excluded.
• 2 x 2 design, where one factor is questiontype: wh- vs. yes/no question
• Each participant sees at least 4 tokens of each
type, mixed with at least 40 fillers.
• Latin square design, randomized.
• Acceptability judgment task, 7-point scale
Experiment 1: Adjunct islands
• Do adjunct islands also have finiteness effect?
Accumulation: Yes, definitely!
If finiteness is intrinsically difficult, it should be here too.
Disruption: Yes, probably.
If finiteness disrupts wh-dependencies elsewhere,
it probably will here also.
• Both make similar predictions. If they are
both on the wrong track, we need to know!
Experiment 1: Adjuncts
Ex 1
Finite
he negotiated
Non-finite
negotiating
y/n-Q Did the carpenter restore the antique table after…
he negotiated with the
buyer?
negotiating with the
buyer?
wh-Q Who did the carpenter restore the antique table after…
he negotiated with _?
negotiating with _?
Experiment 1: Adjuncts
Ex 1
Finite
y/n-Q
Who did the carpenter
restore the
n.s.antique table after…
7
he
wh-Q
he negotiated
Non-finite
negotiating
n.s.
n.s.
negotiated6withy/n
_?
y/n
y/n
negotiating with _?
5
Main
Main
5.69 (1.09)
5.72 (1.07)
p = 0.68
Effect
Effect
***
4
*** carpenter
Did the
restore the antique table after…
he
3
wh
negotiated withwh
the
wh
2
1
buyer?
***
******negotiating
with the buyer?
Islands and finiteness
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Yes.
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument?
Exp. 6: Complement clauses
Finiteness effect everywhere?
What does it all mean?
About islands? About grammar and processing?
A confound
• Finiteness often co-occurs with the
presence of an overt subject.
… after he negotiated …
… after negotiating …
• Is the finiteness effect due to:
– Finiteness itself?
– The extra argument (subject)?
Islands and finiteness
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Yes.
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument?
Finiteness constant / ± extra argument
Exp. 2: CNPC
Exp. 6: Complement
clauses
Subject island
Finiteness Exp.
effect3:everywhere?
Exp. 4: Complement clause
Extra argument constant / ± finiteness
What
Exp. 5:does
CNPC it all mean?
About islands? About grammar and processing?
Experiment 2: CNPC
Ex 2
Overt argument
No overt argument
the children
y/n-Q Does the principal like the thought of …
the children learning
learning
subtraction in kindergarten? subtraction in kindergarten?
wh-Q What does the principal like the thought of …
the children learning
_ in kindergarten?
learning
_ in kindergarten?
Experiment 2: CNPC
Ex 2
Overt argument
No overt argument
the children
y/n-Q
Who did the y/n
carpenter
77
n.s.
Main Effect: ***
restore
antique
Mainthe
Effect:
***
he negotiated66with _?
wh
55
wh-Q
y/n
y/n
5.69 (1.09)
table after…
negotiating with _?
***
p = 0.68
5.72 (1.07)
Interaction:
n.s.
44
Did the carpenter
restore the antique table after…
33
he negotiated with wh
the
wh buyer?
2
2
1
1
negotiating with the buyer?
Experiment 3: Subject islands
Ex 3
Overt argument
the defendant
No overt argument
y/n-Q Does the prosecutor know that …
the defendant presenting
the child's testimony will
convince the jury?
presenting
the child's testimony will
convince the jury?
wh-Q What does the prosecutor know that …
the defendant presenting
_ will convince the jury?
presenting
_ will convince the jury?
Experiment 3: Subject islands
Ex 3
Overt argument
the defendant
No overt argument
Main Effect: n.s.
know
that …
y/n-Q Does the prosecutor
7
the defendant
6 presenting
the child's testimony
y/n will
convince the5 jury?
presenting
the child's testimony will
convince the jury?
Interaction:
n.s.
4
wh
prosecutor
know that …
wh-Q What does the
3
the defendant
presenting
2
_ will convince the jury?
1
presenting
_ will convince the jury?
Experiment 4: Complements
Ex 4
Overt argument
No overt argument
the contractor
y/n-Q Does the architect want …
the contractor to see
the building plans before
Monday?
to see
the building plans before
Monday?
wh-Q What does the architect want …
the contractor to see _
before Monday?
to see _
before Monday?
Experiment 4: Complements
Ex 4
Overt argument
No overt argument
the contractor
Main Effect: ***
want
…
y/n-Q Does the architect
7
6 y/n
the contractor
to see
whbefore
the building plans
Monday? 5
4
to see
the building plans before
Monday?
Interaction:
n.s.
wh-Q What does the architect want …
3
the contractor to see _ No MaintoEffect
see of
_ Question:
2
Complementbefore
clausesMonday?
are not islands
before Monday?
1
Eliminating a confound
7
7
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
CNPC
Subject islands
Complement Cl
Main effect of additional overt argument?
YES
No, but same pattern
YES
Effect of additional overt argument specifically in WH?
NO
NO
NO
Islands and finiteness
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Yes.
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument?
Finiteness constant / ± extra argument
Exp.
2: CNPC
General
preference
for fewer arguments,
Exp. 6: Complement
clauses
3:everywhere?
Subject
island
but
not specific
to wh-dependency.
Finiteness Exp.
effect
Exp. 4: Complement clause
Extra argument constant / ± finiteness
What
Exp. 5:does
CNPC it all mean?
About islands? About grammar and processing?
Experiment 5: CNPC
Ex 5
Finite
Non-finite
buried
burying
y/n-Q Do many people believe the idea …
that the squirrels buried
extra food under bushes?
of the squirrels burying
extra food under bushes?
wh-Q What do many people believe the idea …
that the squirrels buried
_ under bushes?
of the squirrels burying
_ under bushes?
Experiment 5: CNPC
Ex 5
Finite
Non-finite
buried
burying
believe the idea …
y/n-Q Do many people
7
6
that the squirrels
buried
y/n
extra food under bushes?
5
***of
the squirrels burying
extra food under bushes?
4
wh-Q What do many people believe the idea …
3
that the squirrels wh
buried
_ under bushes?
2
1
Interaction: *
of the squirrels burying
**
_ under bushes?
Experiment 5: CNPC
Ex 5
Finite
Non-finite
buried
burying
believe the idea …
y/n-Q Do many people
7
6
that the squirrels
buried
y/n
extra food under bushes?
5
***of
the squirrels burying
extra food under bushes?
4
wh-Q What do many people believe the idea …
3
that the squirrels wh
buried
_ under bushes?
2
1
Non-finite
preferred only
in wh condition
of the squirrels burying
**
_ under bushes?
Islands and finiteness
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Yes.
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument? It’s finiteness.
Finiteness constant / ± extra argument
Exp.
2: CNPC
General
preference
for fewer arguments,
Exp. 6: Complement
clauses
3:everywhere?
Subject
island
but
not specific
to wh-dependency.
Finiteness Exp.
effect
Exp. 4: Complement clause
Extra argument constant / ± finiteness
What
it
all
mean?
Exp. 5:does
CNPC
Preference
forand
non-finite
About islands? About
grammar
processing?
only in wh-dependency.
Where do we stand at this point?
Finiteness
Accumulation Intrinsically difficult for processing.
Islands result from accumulation
offiniteness
several effect
Should see
independent processingvery
difficulties
(filler-gap
generally.
dependency, complex syntactic
structure,
etc.)(2004),
Suggested
in Kluender
E.g. Kluender (1998, 2004), Hofmeister
Sag (2010)
Hofmeister &
(2007).
Finiteness
Disruption
Not intrinsically difficult.
Islands result from otherwise
unproblematic
Should see effect with some
element that may disrupt
filler-gap dependency
dependencies.
(bounding node, intervening
feature,inetc.)
Suggested
Cinque (1990), Manzini
E.g. Ross (1967), Chomsky (1986),
(2004)(2011).
(1992),Rizzi
Truswell
One version of disruption view
• Truswell (2011): Event Locality Condition (roughly)
Filler and gap must be within single event.
Adjuncts:
Prediction: Finiteness disrupts whdependencies
Finite → independent
event in adjunct clauses.
Confirmed
Experiment
1.
Non-finite → possibly
part ofinmain
clause event
Complements (of bridge verbs):
Finite and non-finite: part of main clause event
Prediction: But not in complement clauses.
To be tested in Experiment 6!
Experiment 6: Complements
Ex 6
Finite
Non-finite
was
to be
y/n-Q Did the children believe…
the guest was bringing
a cake?
the guest to be bringing
a cake?
wh-Q What did the children believe…
the guest was bringing _?
the guest to be bringing _?
Experiment 6: Complements
Ex 6
Finite
Non-finite
was
to be
report …Main Effect: **
y/n-Q Did the teacher
7
the students 6knew
y/n
algebra?
5
the students to know
algebra?
wh
4
Finite > Nonfinite
wh-Q What did the teacher report …
3
the students knew _?
2
1
the students toInteraction:
know _?
n.s.
Islands and finiteness
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Yes.
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument? It’s finiteness.
Exp. 6: Complement clauses
Finiteness effect everywhere?
No. Only in islands.
What does it all mean?
About islands? About grammar and processing?
Back to the beginning
Accumulation
Islands result
fromargument
accumulation
Extra
effectofisseveral
most consistent
independent
processing
difficulties
with
accumulation
view.(filler-gap
It occurs
dependency,everywhere.
complex syntactic structure, etc.)
E.g. Kluender (1998, 2004), Hofmeister & Sag (2010)
Disruption
Islands result
from otherwise
Finiteness
effect isunproblematic
most consistent with
element that
may disrupt
filler-gap
disruption
view.
It occursdependency
with:
(bounding node,
intervening feature,
-wh-dependencies
(andetc.)
not generally)
E.g. Ross (1967),
Chomsky
(1986),
Rizzi (2004)
-islands
(and
not complements)
Grammar or processing?
Given the usual associations:
Accumulation often associated with processing.
Disruption often associated with grammar.
It is tempting to conclude that:
Extra argument effect is a processing effect.
Finiteness effect is a grammatical effect.
If so, islands are (partly) a grammatical effect.
However…
• This conclusion could change if disruption is
shown to be due to processing.
• The extra argument effect does seem to be
due to processing, and this degrades some
already bad island violations.
– So processing effects do play a role in the
unacceptability of some island sentences.
Islands
and
finiteness
Summary of findings
Why might finiteness matter to islands?
Exp. 1: Adjunct islands
Is there a finiteness effect?
Yes.
Exp. 2-5: Eliminating a confound
Is it finiteness or the overt argument? It’s finiteness.
Exp. 6: Complement clauses
Finiteness effect everywhere?
No. Only in islands.
What does it all mean?
About islands?
About grammar
and processing?
Extra argument→
processing
Finiteness
→ grammar
Thank you!
grammar.ucsd.edu/syntaxlab
Special thanks to:
Chris Barkley
Boyoung Kim
Ivano Caponigro Robert Kluender
Gabe Doyle
Emily Morgan
Simone Gieselman
Research assistants:
Adrienne LeFevre
Michelle McCadden