On the Lack of V-To-C in Child Italian and English WH-Questions.

This paper reports the results of an experiment with 21 Italian children (age 2;8-5;11) and 29 U.S. children (age 2;7-5;9) who were tested on their knowledge of verb raising to C in main WH-questions, an obligatory movement process in adult Italian and English. Along the lines of recent movement and feature checking theories, it is proposed that, in addition to morphological features, verbs have a modal feature, which has to be checked in C. One such modal feature is [ +WH). In adult Italian and English main WH-questions, [ +WH] on V is checked in C overtly, and thus V raises to C in the syntax. The result of a picture ID task show that, in contrast to adults, Italian and English speaking children allow main WH-clauses without verb raising until the age of about 3;9. Evidence shows that initially, Italian and English speaking children's verb Tense is underspecified. This fact implies that the verb is not forced to move to T, and the Head Movement Constraint prevents the verb from moving to C. Thus, [ +WH] on the verb can only be checked at LF in early child language. The transition into adult language occurs when the Tense feature on the verb is fully developed and thus needs tc be checked in T. From there, the verb is allowed to move to C, and in fact, must move to C, in order to check [+WH] overtly. (Contains 59 references.) (Author/CK) ********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** ON THE LACK OF V-TO-C IN CHILD ITALIAN AND ENGLISH WII-QUESTIONS Jeannette Schaeffer Abstract This paper reports the results of an experiment with 21 Italian children (age 2;8 5;11) and 29 American children (age 2;7 5;9) who were tested on their knowledge of verb raising to C in main WH-questions, an obligatory movement process in adult Italian andThis paper reports the results of an experiment with 21 Italian children (age 2;8 5;11) and 29 American children (age 2;7 5;9) who were tested on their knowledge of verb raising to C in main WH-questions, an obligatory movement process in adult Italian and English. Along the lines of recent movement and feature checking theories (cf. Chomsky, 1993) I propose that, in addition to morphological features, verbs have a mods feature, too, which has to be checked in C. One such modal feature is [+WH]. In adult Italian and English main WH-questions, [+WH] on V is checked in C overtly, and thus V raises to C in the syntax. The result of a picture ID task show that, in contrast to adults, Italian and English speaking children allow main WHclauses without verb raising until the age of about 3;9. I provide evidence that initially, Italian and English speaking children's Tense is underspecified. This implies that the verb is not forced to move to T, and the Head MovemenZ Constraint (Travis, 1984) prevents the verb from moving to C. This, 1-1:WH] on the verb can only be checked at LF in early child language. The transition into adult language takes place at the moment that the Tense feature on the verb is fully developed and thus needs to be checked in T. From there the verb is allowed to move to C, and in fact, must move to C, in order to check [+WH] overtly, as is r1-vious from positive evidence. BEST COPY AVAILABLE 1 11 iiror,;,. ,N It, r-ti H(141I:L 11115 MA 1 t N UHANIED 1-11 10 I HE I IiIILAIIONAI HES(,)uliGP, INI HiMA I If N11H ;1 klc, U. & DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Other/ of Educational Research and Improvement DUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) his document has been reproduced as r wed from the Demon or Cwoenttahon originating a 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points of view of opinions Stated in Ms doCUMehl do not oliCenahly represent official OEFII positron or policy