Connectedness

In generative syntax, connectedness is a property which is meant to account for parasitic gap constructions of the type illustrated in (i).

Examples

(i) ? A person who [[close friends of e] admire t]

In (i) both e and t take who as their antecedent. This is allowed, because the path from e to who and the path from t to who are connected in a specific way. This type of connection is missing in the example in (ii).

(ii) * A person who you admire t because [[close friends of e] become famous]

Comment

The notion of connectedness has been resolved under the Path Containment Condition.

Link

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

References

• Kayne, R. 1984. Connectedness and binary branching. Dordrecht: Foris.
• Koster, J. 1987. Domains and dynasties: The radical autonomy of syntax. Dordrecht: Foris.
• Pesetsky, D. 1982. Paths and categories. Diss. MIT.