Complementizer deletion

In generative syntax, a complementizer deletion is the process of deleting a complementizer.

Examples

 (i)   a I know that he is here
       b I know _ he is here

This deletion has also been taken to apply to wh-words in relative clauses as in (ii).

 (ii)  a the man whom I have seen
       b the man _ I have seen

Comments

The underlying assumption is that the wh-word is in the COMP position. This assumption has been abandoned with the introduction of CP. Now the empty slot '_' in (ii)b is usually analyzed as an empty operator.

Link

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

See also

• deletion in COMP
• that-trace effect

References

• Haegeman, L. 1991. Introduction to Government and Binding Theory. Oxford: Blackwell.
• van Riemsdijk, H. & Williams, E. 1986. Introduction to the theory of grammar. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.