Traces and Their Antecedents

This study investigates the distribution of traces and their antecedents. The first chapter outlines the Government and Binding theory enabling those unfamiliar with this framework to understand the ensuing discussion. The second chapter concerns the Empty Category Principle. Argument/adjunct asymmetries are shown to follow from an independently motivated indexing algorithm which entails that adjuncts display an impoverished indexing. The third chapter deduces the properties of A-chains from independently motivated principles offering a thorough examination of Super-Raising Improper Movement and the Local Binding Condition. The final chapter challenges the standard assumptions regarding Case requirements on traces.