The Syntax of Givenness Ivona Kucerová

α G can G-move out of XP only if X 0 moves out of XP as well.
Thus, I argue that the head movement condition understood as a form of parasitic relation
(instead of new feature evaluation, use an already existing feature set) is a way to
create a landing site in case there is no externally merged probe available. In other words,
while in the case of feature-driven movement, there is probe P that creates a new sisterhood
relation (P lands itself as the landing site), in case of G-movement, there is no Probe and
re-merge is possible only if an existing feature-matching set is reused.
A consequence of this assumption is that a given element α must be remerged within
the same projection to which α’s head moves. We can thus strengthen the condition on the
head movement, as in (33).
(33) Head movement restriction on G-movement [final]:
a. α G can G-move out of XP only if X 0 moves out of XP as well.
b. If α G G-moved out of XP, α G may G-move to YP only if X 0 moves to YP as
well.
Another consequence of the feature matching requirement is that G-movement can take
place after any merge because it is not dependent on introducing new features into the
derivation. There is no need for G-movement to be feature driven. 14 Furthermore, since
head movement is very local, G-movement must be local as well.
Notice that there are three distinct configurations when G-movement of α can arise: (i)
the head of α is in its base generated position, as in (34); (ii) the head of α has undergone G-
movement, as in (35); (iii) the head of α underwent an independently motivated movement,
as in (36).
(34) Case (i): the sister of α is in its base generated position:
X
α
X
X
α
(35) Case (ii): the sister of α undergoes G-movement:
14 I will spell-out how exactly G-movement is driven in chapter 4. For the current discussion it is immaterial
whether G-movement is feature driven or is not. Notice though that if G-movement is not feature driven,
the proposal is still compatible with the phasal theory of Chomsky (2004b, 2005). Chomsky proposes that
a feature-driven operation may take place only at the phasal level because it is only the phasal head that
introduces the relevant feature(s) into the derivation. If G-movement is not feature driven, there is no reason
to wait for the phase to be completed. G-movement may take place at any point.
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