On non-simultaneous phases
Franc Marusic
(2006. dec. 6. 13.30)


According to the phase theory, the recent development of the
Minimalist Program, sentences are built in smaller chunks--phases.
Each phase starts out with its own numeration and is completed when
the structure constructed in a phase is sent to the two
interfaces, PF and LF. Thus, because of simultaneous Spell-Out, every
element participating in the derivation should be both pronounced and
interpreted within the same phase. But we know that certain items can
be interpreted lower than where they are pronounced, as in total
reconstruction, or pronounced lower then where they get
interpreted, as in covert movement.
Total reconstruction is analyzed to involve copy theory of movement
and deletion of the lower PF copies following some potentially tricky
lower-copy-deletion algorithm.
Much less clear is the derivation of covert movement but we can again
derive a solution using another algorithm that would delete the higher
PF copy and the lower LF copy.
Needless to say, these algorithms don't really seem to be the optimal
solution.
A different approach to the two phenomena is to accept the existence
of nonsimultaneous phases (PF-only and LF-only Spell-Out), as argued
for by Megerdoomian 2003, Felser 2004, and Marusiè and Zaucer 2004. If
structure can be sent  to a single interface, than what has not been
sent off can participate in the derivation and move on,
thus explaining why sometimes we intepret things lower or higher from
where they are pronounced.
The goal of this thesis is to further argue for the existence of
non-simultaneous phase edges and explore two predictions their
existence makes. Both reconstruction and covert movement (an
instantiation of which is also quantifier raising (QR)) fall out of
proper syntax under the standard approach (using algorithms to decide
which copy is deleted at which interface). But as claimed here,
accepting non-simultaneous phase edges, we should be able to explain
both phenomena with an independently motivated mechanism within the
realm of syntax.