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* I am grateful to two anonymous EL reviewers for their invaluable comments and helpful suggestions on an earlier version of this paper.

In this paper, we will argue that the LF Object Shift analysis of the infinite regress resolution of Antecedent Contained Deletion is untenable conceptually and empirically. Generalizing Baltin's (1987) CP Extraposition analysis, we will instead propose that any type of rightward movement, including NP and PP Rightward Shift, is available for the infinite regress resolution. Furthermore, we will show that our generalized rightward movement analysis explains a wider range of data than the LF Object Shift analysis. Finally, we will address a question as to why rightward movement, which is non-feature checking movement, is triggered/involved in Antecedent Contained Deletion. We will suggest a way to derive this property under the assumptions of Chomsky's (1993, 1995) Minimalist Program.

This paper aims to demonstrate that there exist real parasitic gaps (PG) in Japanese, despite the fact that pro is available rather freely in this language, hence making it hard to unveil the existence of real PGs. Taking up Takahashi's (J East Asian Linguistics 15: 1-35, 2006) work as the starting point, I argue that as far as NP gaps are concerned, what Takahashi calls an apparent PG is identified as either a real PG or an instance of pro, contrary to Takahashi's claim that it involves argument ellipsis. Real PG cases are found in typical PG configurations where sloppy readings of zibun 'self' are involved and where reconstruction effects of Condition A take place into PGs. I further argue that the argument-ellipsis strategy is unavailable in the apparent PG configuration due to its last resort nature. This property restricts the availability of argument ellipsis to the configuration in which the elliptic site is not c-commanded by its antecedent or it is not an NP in categorial status.

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