Topic Islands and the Subjacency Parameter

Abstract

This paper proposes a formulation of the Subjacency condition and related parametric variation in terms of the notion “barrier” of Chomsky (1986), adapting features of the analysis of Lasnik and Saito (1989). The discussion centers around topic constructions such as (1) and what will be referred to here as the topic island effect, illustrated in (2): (1)Under the table Bill noticed a small iron box.(2)a.*What under the table did Bill notice?b.*I wonder what under the table Bill noticed.c.*The box that under the table Bill noticed was locked.