On the paradigmatic morphosyntax of wh-elements

This paper discusses the distribution of wh-elements across different constructions. In particular, it attempts to develop an account for the observation that wh-elements do not distribute freely across different syntactic environments; rather, their distribution is paradigmatic or construction-specific. Such distribution raises issues for current minimalist frameworks, as wh-elements are expected to undergo Merge irrespective of the particular construction being derived. The proposed account captures the relevant distribution by means of language-specific lexical properties of wh-elements in accord with a licensing mechanism operating at the Sensory-Motor interface. This paper moreover discusses the licensing of wh- elements in the contexts of interrogative, free and headed relative constructions.