Question Movement in Some SOV Languages and the Theory of Feature Checking

Abstract

In some SOV languages, a wh-phrase must show up in a position immediately to the left of V. Using Malayalam data, it is argued that the wh-phrase is in fact moved into the Spec of a Focus Phrase immediately above vP. This IP-internal wh-movement can be understood in terms of the Phase Impenetrability Condition of phase theory. If a wh-phrase in an embedded clause has matrix scope, the scope-marking is done by two movements: (i) the wh-phrase moves into the Focus position in the minimal clause; (ii) this clause is pied-piped into the Focus position of the matrix clause. It is shown that the device of feature checking is unable (by itself) to describe these movements; and it is suggested that we must factor in a parameterized property of the question operator's probe.