On ellipsis features and Right Node Raising

In this paper, I propose that Right Node Raising (RNR) is an ellipsis phenomenon and licensed by a variant of the E(llipsis) feature (i.e. ERNR). The ERNR feature imposes syntactic, semantic and phonological requirements that must be fulfilled for RNR to be licensed. Following Merchant (2001), I will argue that i) the ERNR feature enters the derivation with a focused lexical element and checked by the focus feature of C in syntax, ii) the feature instructs PF to unpronounce the RNR target, and iii) as the semantic requirement, e-GIVENness must be satisfied.