A parallel movement solution to puzzles of discontinuous ellipses

This paper argues that a sideward/parallel movement analysis of so-called "LeftPeripheral Ellipsis" (LPE; Sag, 1976) & Gapping constructions improves on the traditional deletion analysis in at least two important ways. First, it avoids the need to appeal to the notion of non-constituent deletion. Second, we attempt to show that directionality effects (Ross, 1970 & others) can be derived without recourse to the head parameter or directionality stipulated in the application of transformational rules (which would require linear order in the narrow syntax &, further, would need to be parametrized); rather, we show that apparent directionality in LPE & Gapping constructions is a natural consequence of the interaction of Copy, Merge, PF-deletion of copies, & Cyclic Spell-Out - an effect that is derived only under a movement-based approach. 42 References. Adapted from the source document