When a wh-in-situ behaves like a parasitic gap

Abstract

This work investigates the syntax of wh-in-situ by drawing attention to a unique type of multiple wh-question in Mandarin, which we refer to as the visible parasitic gap construction. Specifically, an island-bound wh-in-situ, i.e., what we call the visible parasitic gap, is licensed by the covert Ā-movement of an independent island-free wh-in-situ, in essentially the same way as the licensing of a standard parasitic gap. We therefore argue that (i) wh-in-situ may license parasitic gaps, and that (ii) LF movement of wh-in-situ should remain available as an option for the scope interpretation of wh-phrases in Mandarin grammar.