The Syntax and Information-Structural Semantics of Negative Inversion in English and Their Implications for the Theory of Focus
The Syntax and Information-Structural Semantics of Negative Inversion in English and Their Implications for the Theory of Focus
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英语否定倒装的句法和信息结构语义及其对焦点理论的启示
DOI：
10.1075/la.267.03hon
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发表时间：
2021
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Masatoshi Honda
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Yasuhara Masaki;瀬尾悠希子;Masatoshi Honda
英语中的否定倒装（例如，我从未见过这样的一个。）由于它具有复杂的句法和语义特征，因而引起了人们的实验和理论兴趣。一个广泛持有的制图学观点（例如Haegeman（2000，2012））认为，负反转的目标是CP域中的FocP，从而满足要求前置NEG算子处于Spec-Head配置中的NEG标准，其中Foc头被反转的辅助语占据。本文以Cruchina（2011）的CP分裂模型为基础，从句法和信息结构语义两个方面对否定倒装句的焦点投射进行了研究，并提出了一种新的判断方法。在实证方面，借鉴Leonetti & Escandell-Vidal（2009）对西班牙语QP前置的见解，证明了否定倒装显示了与（非对比）极性强调相关的某些属性，这并不有助于焦点和预设之间的分裂。在理论方面，有人认为，在负反转的极性强调相关的属性归因于IFoc前端操作。所提出的分析是Haegeman（2000，2012）提出的标准方法的复杂版本，自然地捕获了负反转中无法解释的极性强调效应。
Negative inversion in English (e.g. Never have I seen such a hippopotamus.) has inspired empirical and theoretical interest because it shows complex syntactic and semantic properties. One widely-held cartographic view (e.g. Haegeman (2000, 2012)) has been that negative inversion targets FocP in the CP domain, thereby satisfying the NEG-criterion that requires the fronted NEG operator to be in a Spec-Head configuration with the Foc head occupied by the inverted auxiliary. Focusing on the syntax and information-structural semantics of negative inversion, this study aims to develop the criterial approach in terms of Cruschina’s (2011) split CP model, according to which the Focus projection splits into two: Contrastive Focus (CFoc) and Information Focus (IFoc). On the empirical side, drawing on Leonetti & Escandell-Vidal’s (2009) insights into QP-fronting in Spanish, it is demonstrated that negative inversion displays certain properties related to (non-contrastive) polarity emphasis, which does not contribute to a split between Focus and Presupposition. On the theoretical side, it is argued that the properties relevant to polarity emphasis in negative inversion are attributed to IFoc fronting operations. The proposed analysis, a sophisticated version of the criterial approach proposed in Haegeman (2000, 2012), naturally captures the otherwise-unexplained polarity emphasis effects in negative inversion.