Reconstruction and the Checking Theory

Abstract

In this paper, I propose an alternative analysis to Belletti and Rizzi's(1986) treatment of Principle A as an anywhere principle. The fact that properly contained anaphors show connectivity effect regardless of the type of movement (A or A′), I argue, follows from the proposed Reconstruction theory. The proposed analysis does not pose a fundamental asymmetry in the application level of Principle A and Principles B/C. Rather I suggest that conditions of interpretation, whether it is Principle A or Principles B/C, uniformly apply only at the interface level LF (cf. Chomsky 1992). The proposed analysis also gives a unified explanation for the Reconstruction effect and Negative Polarity Item Licensing.