Syntax and Semantics Babble (S-Babble) is a weekly informal discussion group at UC San Diego on theoretical and experimental aspects of syntax and semantics and related areas such as their interfaces with morphology, pragmatics, and philosophy of language
S-Babble is open to all students and faculty
Speakers are asked to prepare a talk that is no longer than 50 mins and send a title as early as possible, but at least one week before the talk
An abstract of the talk and suggestions for background readings are welcome
Speakers are fully free to choose among the following 3 presentation options
1. Full talk without interruptions except for few brief, specific, crucial clarification questions
2. Beginning of the talk (up to a specified point) without interruptions except for few brief, specific, crucial clarification questions
3. The talk can be interrupted with questions at any time
Tuesday 11 am - 12:30 pm
Zoom (email eclem [at] ucsd [dot] edu to be added to our weekly email list to receive Zoom links)
All Babblers are invited to give short informal presentations of data, ideas, or questions related to syntax and/or semantics to kick things off for the year! We encourage you to use this opportunity for group feedback and discussion on any topics or puzzles that you've been musing over lately. Names of those who would like to present will be drawn randomly, and each presenter will have 5-10 minutes (depending on the number of presenters) for presentation and discussion. You are still welcome and encouraged to attend even if you do not have a topic you would like to present.
Using an array of tests, this paper produces a uniquely comprehensive diagnosis for the logophoric interpretation of wh-moved anaphors. The particular wh-constructions investigated here are argued in the literature to provide evidence that intermediate reconstruction sites satisfy Condition A of the binding theory (Barss 1986; Sportiche 2006; Chomsky 2023). Since these wh-moved anaphors are logophors, expressions that do not adhere to binding theory constraints (at least on the surface, see Charnavel 2019), we may dismiss the purported evidence as irrelevant. This paper uses picture noun phrases, the predominant configuration used in the relevant literature to demonstrate intermediate reconstruction for Condition A satisfaction. My explanation of the presented analysis is based on the observation from Pollard & Sag (1992) that an intervening animate can degrade logophors. Assuming the availability of prolog in picture-NPs, as argued by Charnavel & Bryant (2022), the problem of the intervener is circumvented due to wh-movement to a position where the embedded subject no longer intervenes between prolog and its antecedent.