Covert partial wh movement and the nature of derivations
Wh movement is commonly thought to be caused by a syntactic probing operation, initiated by an interrogative probe on C, which triggers subsequent movement to the specifier of C. In this paper I argue that at least English covert wh movement cannot be described in these terms. I argue instead that covert movement can target positions other than interrogative C, and that this movement is triggered by the interpretational needs of the wh phrase itself, rather than the formal needs of interrogative C. Evidence will come from the interaction of English multiple wh questions with intervention effects I document a pattern of intervention effects that is explained only if English in situ wh phrases can be interpreted at LF in non interrogative intermediate positions.