空语类原则、PRO定理与whether/if的分布差异

ECP Principle,PRO Theorem and the distinctive distribution of whether/if

whether与if两词在引导一般疑问句时具有相似的语义解读,但在分布上存在较大差异。If引导的从句受到更多限制。本文依据空语类原则(ECP)和PRO定理,对whether与if的分布差异进行理论化的分析。本文认为,if引导的小句中存在一个空算子(whether),这个空算子受制于空语类原则,必须受到合理管辖。这是造成whether与if分布差异的主要原因。此外,if不能引导不定式小句的限制可由PRO定理解释。

Based on ECP and PRO Theorem, this paper provides a principled analysis on the differences between the distribution of whether and if in yes-no question clauses: clauses led by if seem to be subject to more restrictions. It proposes two important hypotheses: there is a null operator(whether) in the question clause introduced by if and this null operator is subject to ECP. This null operator(whether) is argued to be mainly responsible for differences in the distribution of whether and if. Moreover, the fact that if can not be followed by an infinitive clause can be accounted for on the basis of PRO theorem.