Phase and Exceptional Case-marking

Mika Takahashi

Abstract


In this paper, I claim that the Phase Impenetrability Condition put forth by Chomsky (1998) receives empirical support, by examining certain ECM constructions with infinitival complements in Japanese, which are intractable from the perspective of the Defective Intervention Constraint. Assuming that exceptional case-marking involves the process of raising to edge of a phase, I demonstrate that the data in question can be accounted for within phase theory.

keywords: ECM Constructions in Japanese, Defective Intervention Constraint, Phase Impenetrability Condition