When is less more? Faithfulness and minimal links in wh-chains

Abstract

In the domain of wh-questions, we explore the application of OT to syntactic explanation based on the principle of Minimal Links ('Shortest Move'). We develop a family of constraints called MinLink, and argue: (a) OT allows a strong but flexible MinLink to be constructed directly from general principles, and (b) the resulting MinLink explains a broad range of cross-linguistic (overt and covert) extraction facts. In addition, we argue for certain general solutions to fundamental questions for comparison-based syntactic formalisms: What structures compete? What is the 'input'? How is language-particular ineffability possible? How are marked outputs possible?