the week of november 5

correlatives

For the first time in this class, we attempted an analysis of a non-trivial phenomenon at the syntax-semantics interface: relative clauses, in particular Hindi correlatives. Monday's lecture was mostly dedicated to elucidating the binding relation between a relative pronoun and a binder in the left periphery that is responsible for the fact that relative clauses are interpreted as properties. They are expressions that are of type <et>, then, and can thus combine with the head of the relative clause via Predicate Modification. Here is Monday's handout. On Wednesday and Friday, we worked out a compositional semantics of Hindi single-headed correlative constructions, considering both Veneeta Dayal's proposal that the relatives in a correlative construction originate in the left periphery, and Rajesh Bhatt's proposal that they originate in a position that is adjoined to the correlating demonstrative DP. Here is the combined handout for Wednesday and Friday.