| description | Jan-Wouter Zwart. 2012. Easy to (re)analyse: tough-constructions in minimalism. In Marion Elenbaas and Suzanne Aalberse, eds., Linguistics in The Netherlands 2012, p. 147-158. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. |
| type | Reviewed journal article. |
| ID | 2012 | 150 | DOI | first version February 3, 2012; revised June 7, 2012 |
| origin | Paper presented at the TIN-dag, Utrecht, February 4, 2012. I was interested in exploring a layered derivations approach to this famous construction type, for which reanalysis had been proposed, but also heavily criticized. |
| keywords | tough-constructions, easy to please-constructions, reanalysis, complex adjectival constructions, derivation layering, passive infinitive, empty operator movement |
| summary | Within minimalism, complex adjectival constructions involving predicates like tough/easy (as in John is easy to please) receive a natural account in terms of reanalysis (previously proposed, but often criticized), if we assume derivations to consist of various subderivations separated by the interface components dealing with sound and meaning. Reanalysis takes place at these interface components, turning a complex adjectival construction into a simplex adjective which can be merged in attributive position in the next derivation layer. Arguments against reanalysis fail to distinguish plain and expanded tough-constructions, the latter not showing any reanalysis characteristics. In a layered-derivation approach, the arguments for empty operator movement in the embedded infinitival clause disappear, and the reanalysed construction shows the properties of adjectival passives instead. |
| related |
full text Presentations: TIN, 02/2012 |
