Across-the-Board and Parasitic Gap Constructions in Romanian

1 Introduction

Many authors have argued that parasitic gap (PG) constructions, illustrated in (1), are the same as across-the-board (ATB) constructions, illustrated in (2).¹

1. 1. What did you file e without reading e?

2. 2. Which paper did John file e and Mary read e?

As pointed out by Ross (1967), PG constructions and ATB constructions are similar in that the dislocated element in (1) and (2) appears to be extracted from more than one position. Because of this similarity, many researchers have tried to assimilate the two constructions (see, e.g., Haïk 1985, Williams 1990, Nunes 2004, An 2007).

In this squib, I will investigate PG and ATB constructions in Romanian, a multiple wh-fronting language, and argue that PG constructions cannot be derived via ATB extraction. Thus, this squib provides additional evidence for Munn's (1993) and Postal's (1993) arguments against a uniform analysis. I will demonstrate my point with respect to Nunes's (2004) and An's (2007) analyses.

2 Across-the-Board Movement in Romanian

As extensively discussed by Rudin (1988), Comorovski (1996), and Bošković (2002), Romanian is a multiple wh-fronting (MWF) language. Also, this language is like Bulgarian and English in that it shows superiority effects.

(3)

1. a. Cine ce   a   cumpa.rat?

   who what has bought

   'Who bought what?'

2. b. *Ce cine a cumpărat?

In Romanian, wh-fronting is obligatory even in echo questions (see Comorovski 1996, Bošković 2002).

(4) *Ion a   adus   ce?

Ion has brought what

As reported by Bošković (2002),MWF languages display a rather interesting phenomenon whereby one of the wh-phrases is pronounced in the base position. Like all questions in Romanian, (5a) is subject to multiple wh-fronting. However, the second wh-phrase cannot be fronted, as illustrated in (5b). Bošković argues that Romanian has a PF constraint against sequences of homophonous wh-phrases. Assuming that lower-copy pronunciation is allowed when it is necessary to avoid a PF violation (e.g., Bobaljik 1995, Franks 1998, Bošković 2001), a lower copy of the second ce is then pronounced in (5a).

(5)

1. a. Ce   precede  ce?

   what precedes what

   'What precedes what?'

2. b. *Ce ce precede?

Let us now consider the ATB construction in Romanian. (6) illustrates ATB multiple wh-fronting.

(6) Cine ce   a   spart   şi   a   distrus?

who what has broken and has destroyed

'Who has broken and destroyed what?'

However, when phonetically identical wh-phrases undergo ATB movement, one of the wh-phrases is pronounced in the base-generated position of the second conjunct, not the first conjunct.²

(7)

1. a. *Ce   ce   a   precedat   şi   a   influenţat?

   what what has preceded and has influenced

   'What preceded and influenced what?'

2. b. Ce   a   precedat şi   a   influenţat   ce?

   what has preceded and has influenced what

3. c. *Ce   a   precedat ce   şi   (a) influenţat?

   what has preceded what and has influenced

3 Parasitic Gap Constructions in Romanian

A compelling argument for the copy theory of movement comes from PG constructions in Romanian (Bošković 2002). The relevant example is shown in (8).

(8) Ce   precede  ce   fără    să     influenţeze?

what precedes what without SUBJ.PART influences

'What precedes what without influencing?'

As is well known, PGs must be licensed by a wh-element that undergoes movement overtly (see Chomsky 1982). If this is the case, then the acceptability of (8) clearly indicates that the wh-phrase in object position actually moves overtly and licenses the PG in the adjunct clause. However, as discussed earlier, because two homophonous elements must not be adjacent, the wh-object is pronounced in the base-generated position.

What is interesting in this connection is that the object wh-phrase must be phonetically realized in the matrix clause, not the adjunct clause.³

(9) *Ce   precede   fără   să     influenţeze ce?

what precedes without SUBJ.PART influences what

To sum up, the distribution of wh-phrases pronounced in base positions in Romanian ATB and PG constructions differs. In ATB constructions, the wh-phrase is pronounced in...