English Sentential Subject Extraposition: A Constraint-Based Approach = English Sentential Subject Extraposition: A Constraint-Based Approach

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study provides a systematic account of the properties of sentential subject extraposition (SSE) with the help of sign-based construction grammar which enables SSE construction to inherit multiple constraints through an inheritance hierarchy. In doing so, we take a closer look at a total of 414 examples of SSE structures from COCA and then describe their properties. Adjectival predicates stay on the top of frequency rate, and simultaneously convey an objective and evaluative stance. The information structure within an extraposed sentential subject is not always discourse-new, thus not being an absolute answer for its movement. The heaviest grammatical weight within an extraposed constituent also does not become a fundamental trigger for the extraposition. Not surprisingly, the conclusive statement on why the sentential subject is extraposed is the result of a stronger focus effect, whereby prominence maximizes a speaker's illocutionary act. Considering these facts, in a constraint-based analysis, we employ a Head-Extra Construction and then subcategorize it into a Head-Noun-Extra Construction in order to explain the case when a head noun selects a nonlocal EXTRA feature. The main predicate of an SSE construction is specified as a verb lexeme to allow a finite auxiliary as well as a finite main verb. It is also licensed from core-cl, so its declarative and interrogative clauses are allowed in English. Last, we add a FOCUS feature to the feature structure in order to reflect a speaker's prosodically marked point. Consequently, all these constraints license English sentential subject extraposition.