Abstract
This paper investigates clausal ellipsis with why not; e.g., Chris didn’t come, but I don’t know why not. Elliptical why not requires a negative antecedent, involves negative concord, and is subject to a clausemate condition. These empirical traits might be captured by analysing elliptical why not as a version of polarity ellipsis. Despite consisting of not and why, why not behaves very differently from both negative stripping and why-stripping.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Syntax |
| Volume | 27 |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 9 Aug 2022 |
Keywords
- why not
- negative stripping
- why-stripping
- FFR
- polarity ellipsis
- ellipsis