Universal #1385

Legacy number: 1385

 Number  1381
 Original  Gap Subcategorizor Hierarchy:
If a gap can be subcategorized by P, it can be subcategorized by V.
 Standardized  Gap Subcategorizor Hierarchy:
IF a gap can be subcategorized by P, THEN it can be subcategorized by V.
 Keywords  gap, subcategorization
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  unspecified
 Source  Hawkins 1999: 277

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Discussion
Notes
Hawkins 1999: 277: “Why should it be the prepositional gaps rather than the verbal gaps that are more constrained crosslinguistically? This makes sense from the current perspective because prepositional gaps are typically deeper in the clause structure than verbal gaps and will have larger and more complex FGDs [...]. In addition, verbs have more subcategorized arguments and are more frequently occurring than prepositions (every clause has a verb, but not every clause has a PP). Hence the more complex and less frequently occurring gap option is eliminated in most grammars.”
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Hawkins 1999: 277: "Why should it be the prepositional gaps rather than the verbal gaps that are more constrained crosslinguistically? This makes sense from the current perspective because prepositional gaps are typically deeper in the clause structure than verbal gaps and will have larger and more complex FGDs [...]. In addition, verbs have more subcategorized arguments and are more frequently occurring than prepositions (every clause has a verb, but not every clause has a PP). Hence the more complex and less frequently occurring gap option is eliminated in most grammars."