In this article, I argue that an approach to pied-piping in terms of wh-feature percolation is problematic under minimalist assumptions. I propose an alternative theory based on Agree, arguing that wh-movement and restrictions on pied-piping follow from the interaction of the theory of phases and a violable constraint that forces wh-feature checking under Agree to be as local as possible. I present and derive three observations about pied-piping that are attested in different languages.

pied-piping, Minimalist Program, Optimality Theory, feature percolation, wh-movement, phases, Agree, successive cyclicity
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© 2009 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2009
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