Scope assignment: From wh- to QR

Abstract

This paper develops a theory of scope assignment to wh-phrases as resulting of a process of selective spell-out of copies created from Internal Merge. We show that so-called LF-movement is not a viable option in the current theory of grammar. We therefore pursue the idea that all movement is overt and this, taken in conjunction with a tripartite structure for question formation (involving a clause-typing interrogative C, a Q particle, and a wh-phrase) yields a transparent, syntactically driven theory of scope which we then extend, more speculatively to Quantifier Raising in general.