Epistemic adverbs, the prosody-syntax interface, and the theory of phases

Abstract

Epistemic adverbs in Italian (e.g., probabilmente 'probably') can appear in several positions. Cinque (1999) proposed that they always occupy the same position above IP and that the various orders are derived via movement of the other phrases around them. In this paper I consider contrasts between sentences where these adverbs are associated with a "normal intonation" and those where they are associated with a parenthetical (comma) intonation. To provide an account for the distribution of parenthetical adverbs, I appeal to Giorgi (2011, to appear). I consider parentheticals as syntactically integrated structures, rejecting adjunction and adopting the cartographic approach, based on Kayne's (1994) Linear Correspondence Axiom. As for the non-parenthetical occurrences, I propose that there are two basic positions for these adverbs, one for each phase: above v*P and above IP (Cinque's position). The existence of a low left periphery above v*P agrees has also been recently hypothesized for other phenomena in Old (Poletto, 2006 and to appear) and Modern Italian (Belletti, 2004).

52 | 2018

“…We are not going to consider these cases in this work. For a discussion see Giorgi 2016. It is also important to keep in mind that the notion of evaluation is often taken in a much broader sense than the one considered here.…”

From northern Italian to Asian wh-in situ: A theory of low focus movement

“…The strategy of real wh-in situ seen in the echo question in (4b) is also available in many fronting languages in special questions asking for repetitions and/or clarifications, and in multiple-wh interrogatives, i.e., questions that bear on more than one constituent. Nonetheless, only the morphosyntax of answer-seeking 4 I use 'LLP' for the periphery of vP, following Poletto (2006) and Giorgi (2016).…”