Complementation, multiple wh and echo questions

This paper treats the distribution and use of the feature [+/- WH] in structures of complementation, multiple wh constructions, and echo wh questions. It is argued in sections 1 and 2 that within the class of [-WH] elements fall the complementizers that, if, whether. The distribution of complementizers and wh phrases in COMP is treated through a system of filters on S-structures and the interpretation of LFs. Section 3 concerns itself with the S-structure and LF interaction of echo wh phrases, assumed to be [+ WH], and [+/-WH] COMPs. Echo wh phrases are seen to behave as focused phrases at LF, in contrast with their multiple wh counterparts. The Superiority Condition of Chomsky (1973) is reinterpreted as a condition on the obligatory assignment of echo question interpretations, and demonstrated not to follow from the ECP as formulated in Chomsky (1981) and related work