Resolving Multiple Wh-Fragments in English: A Syntax-Pragmatics Approach

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide a new analysis of multiple wh-fragments, the so-called ‘multiple sluicing’, in English. Against previous approaches which resort to a reconstruction-based resolution or gapping, the proposed analysis captures multiple wh-fragments without positing a copy-deletion mechanism. In fact, multiple wh-fragments are viewed as a root clause whose interpretation can be determined by previous discourse context. This is achieved by suggesting a new type constraint for multiple wh-fragments, based on the analysis of fragment by Bertomeu and Kordoni (2005). (Seoul National University)