Complex clauses with embedded constituent interrogatives in Turkish Sign Language (TİD)

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is twofold: while presenting my observations on the syntax and prosody of clausal wh-complements in Turkish Sign Language (TİD), I discuss the implications of my findings to matrix interrogatives and the embedded information structure in TİD. First of all, I present evidence in favor of the presence of clausal wh-complements in TİD. Secondly, I present my data and observations on different grammatical patterns of matrix word order, and the properties of matrix subject pronoun copy with respect to ASK-type and KNOW-type verbs. Then, I show that TİD clausal wh-complements are significantly different from matrix wh-interrogatives in their distribution of wh-items. Building on this coupled with an observation on the spreading domain of BROW RAISE, I conjecture that the embedded context might only allow for wh-in-situ and that any other configuration in the surface might emerge due to information structural movement of constituents other than the wh-item. Moreover, I show that TİD distinguishes between the wh-complements of ASK-type and KNOW-type verbs with respect to their prosodic properties and quantification. The need to study clausal wh-complements in TİD lies in the fact that it is at the junction of interrogatives, complexity and reported speech. Several studies in these areas had already paved the way to this thesis. I hope my findings will shed some light upon the discussions and studies on interrogatives, complexity and reported speech and if on the right track pave the way to future research.