A non-overt negative operator in French

Rowlett, PA

Abstract

This paper addresses negative ne, N eg0, in French which is restricted to contexts
of sentential (as opposed to constituent) negation. This association is attributed to
a single mechanism: ne is licensed and sentential negation is marked via Dynamic
Agreement in an S-Structure spec-head configuration with a negative operator in
SpecNegP, whereby the [+NEG] feature of the operator is transmitted to Neg°.
This conclusion explains central propeties of the negative operator pas. While pas
can appear in situ, below SpecNegP, it cannot license nefrom such a position and
it has narrow scope; to license ne and have wide scope, pas must overtly raise to
SpecNegP. This analysis works well where sentential negation is marked by pas
but there are problems where sentential negation is marked, for example, by plus
or rien, which will be termed associates. In such contexts, ne can be licensed and
sentential negation marked without the associate occupying SpecNegP at SStructure.
Other authors have solved the problem by assuming: (a) that associates
are negative operators like pas; (b) that they raise to SpecNegP at LF; and, (c)
that it is at LF that ne is licensed and sentential negation marked. This analysis is
problematic since it provides no principled account for why pas cannot raise to
SpecNegP at LF too. In this paper, in contrast, S-Structure is maintained as the
relevant level of representation. The inability of pas to mark sentential negation
and license ne from below SpecNegP is thus explained. As for the problematic
associates, it is argued that these are not in fact negative operators. Rather, the
negative operator which occupies SpecNegP — licensing ne and marking sentential
negation — is a non-oven element: Op, an alternative surface form (with distinct
licensing conditions) to pas of the same lexical item. Crucially, Op occupies
SpecNegP at S-Structure and the original analysis ofnt licensing can be maintained.

Citation

Rowlett, P. (1998). A non-overt negative operator in French. Probus, 10(2), 185-206. https://doi.org/10.1515/prbs.1998.10.2.185%2C+//1998

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1998
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2010
• Journal: Probus
• Print ISSN: 0921-4771
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 185-206
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/prbs.1998.10.2.185%2C+//1998
• Publisher URL: http://www.reference-global.com/stoken/default+domain/PDVVEBHKQSCM3ZEEWX6Y/abs/10.1515/prbs.1998.10.2.185