Documentation

Linglib.Typology.ExpressiveModifier

Typology.ExpressiveModifier #

@cite{pesetsky-1987} @cite{chou-2012} @cite{merchant-2002} @cite{hoeksema-napoli-2008} @cite{jackendoff-audring-2020} @cite{chan-shen-2026}

Per-language typological substrate for aggressively non-D-linked (ANDL) wh-modifiers — the-hell, the heck, the fuck, the devil, the dickens, in the world, in God's name (English; @cite{hoeksema-napoli-2008}, @cite{jackendoff-audring-2020}); daodi 到底 (Mandarin; @cite{chou-2012}); ittai (Japanese); ttaeyche (Korean); zum-Teufel (German); etc.

The shared empirical generalization (@cite{pesetsky-1987}): ANDL modifiers have a distributional restriction that bare wh-words do not. Different languages and different ANDL items vary along a small set of typological parameters, formalized here.

Provenance #

Moved from Core/Lexical/ExpressiveModifier.lean in the cleanup that dissolved Core/Lexical/. The file's per-language entry-schema + abstract-licensing-predicate shape (Fragment-importable, syntax-framework- neutral) matches Typology/PolarityMarking.lean and Typology/Negation.lean, not the framework-agnostic substrate shape Core/ is for.

Framework commitment. The parasitic/independent dichotomy (ANDLMovementType) is the single typological parameter @cite{chan-shen-2026} isolate as distinguishing English/Singlish the-hell from Mandarin daodi. This is one carve-up among several in the ANDL literature — alternatives exist that classify these items by syntactic category (DP-modifier vs. adverb), by intervention profile, or by perspectival semantics rather than by movement source. The schema is intentionally thin: only the Chan-Shen 2026 dimension is encoded; competing classifications attach as separate predicates in Theories/.

Out of scope (lives in Theories) #

This file does not commit to a syntactic framework. It carries no features, no Spec-CP, no Agree, no AttP. A Minimalist analysis (POV features [ud]/[+d], Spec-head Agree, parasitic adjunction) would live in Theories/Syntax/Minimalist/ANDL.lean (planned; not yet present). The semantic analysis (negative attitude, conventional implicature, possible-ignorance presupposition) lives in Theories/Pragmatics/Expressives/ (currently Basic.lean + OutlookMarker.lean) and Theories/Interfaces/SyntaxSemantics/LeftPeriphery.lean. Fragment lexemes import only this file.

How an ANDL modifier reaches its scope-taking position.

  • parasitic: must adjoin to the wh-phrase; rides along with wh-movement; cannot move on its own. English/Singlish the-hell (@cite{merchant-2002}, @cite{chan-shen-2026}).
  • independent: can undergo movement on its own (typically covert) to the scope position. Mandarin daodi (@cite{chou-2012}).

This is the single typological parameter @cite{chan-shen-2026} isolate as distinguishing English/Singlish the-hell from Mandarin daodi.

  • parasitic : ANDLMovementType

    Modifier must adjoin to wh-host; moves only as a passenger.

  • independent : ANDLMovementType

    Modifier moves on its own to the scope position.

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      Where an ANDL modifier scopes — its required host position at the end of the derivation. For all currently-attested cases this is matrix scope; the abstraction leaves room for future findings of e.g. embedded-scope ANDLs.

      • matrixScope : ANDLHostPosition

        Modifier must reach matrix scope (English, Mandarin, Singlish).

      • embeddedScopeOk : ANDLHostPosition

        Modifier permits embedded scope. (Currently unattested; placeholder.)

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          A theory-neutral lexical entry for an ANDL (aggressively non-D-linked) wh-modifier. Carries phonological form, gloss, and the typological parameters that determine licensing.

          Theory-specific analyses (POV features, conventional implicature, perspectival semantics) attach as separate predicates in Theories/.

          • form : String

            Written form.

          • gloss : String

            Gloss (English description).

          • movementType : ANDLMovementType

            Whether the modifier moves parasitically on the wh-phrase or independently.

          • hostPosition : ANDLHostPosition

            Required scope position.

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                Theory-neutral licensing: an ANDL modifier with required scope at matrix is licensed iff some element (the modifier itself, or its wh-host) reaches the scope position.

                Parameters:

                • m — the ANDL lexeme
                • whHostReachesScope — does the wh-phrase reach matrix scope under the strategy in question? (e.g., WhInterpMechanism.ReachesSpecCP)

                The predicate is the disjunction: licensed iff host reaches scope OR (modifier moves independently to matrix scope on its own). Specific theories instantiate whHostReachesScope with their own structural primitives.

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                  @[implicit_reducible]
                  instance Typology.ExpressiveModifier.instDecidableLicensed (m : ExpressiveWhModifier) (P : Prop) [Decidable P] :
                  Decidable (Licensed m P)
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                  For a parasitic modifier (the-hell-type), licensing reduces to the wh-host reaching scope.

                  For an independent modifier (daodi-type) with matrix scope, licensing holds regardless of whether the host reaches scope.