AN IN-SITU ANALYSIS OF WHY-STRIPPING

Abstract

This paper examines whether the remnant in elliptical constructions must move out of the deletion site, focusing on Why-Stripping, an elliptical construction with why and a non-wh-remnant. Showing that Why-Stripping has the same structure as a why-question containing an in-situ focus, this paper proposes an in-situ analysis of Why-Stripping in which why is base-generated outside the deletion site while the non-wh-remnant stays inside the deletion site. It provides novel arguments for the view that the remnant in elliptical constructions can stay inside the deletion site.