Subject-Auxiliary Inversions in English

Abstract

The English auxiliary system is certainly one of the most frequently analyzed facets of any of the worlds grammatical systems. One of the characteristic properties of the English auxiliaries is the so-called NICE Properties (Negation, Inversion, Contraction and Ellipsis). In this paper I will focus on the phenomenon of English subject-auxiliary inversions. I will present three well-recognized analyses of subject-auxiliary inversions: the analysis based on inversion lexical rules following Sag and Wasow (1999), the analysis founded on no lexical rules following Warner (2000), and the analysis grounded on no default specifications following Green and Morgan (1995). Particularly this paper will partially revise a multiple inheritance sort hierarchy which was originally suggested by Green and Morgan (1995). It will also make a comparison between "Will not they...?" and "Will they not...?", and provide two ways to block inversions when finite negation is applied simultaneously with subject-auxiliary inversions: morphologically and by changing the valence membership of head 'will'. My suggestions will be supported by some empirical data.