ABSTRACT
In the remainder of this chapter, the author considers a range of possible analyses of VSO clauses. First, in terms of the Extended Projection Principle (EPP) of Chomsky, the author shows that the subject leaves VP. Second, the author shows that the EPP-preserving analysis of VSO—placing the subject in SpecIP and the verb in C—cannot work. On the basis of the above considerations, it should be clear what the simplest analysis of VSO would be. The author views that V raises to a VP-external position, and that this position is associated with finiteness. It seems very natural to identify this position as Tense. In this section, the author views the evidence that there is no root-embedded asymmetry in verb-movement in the Celtic languages. This suggests that, without further refinements regarding the nature of complementiser systems, we should conclude that V does not raise to C in these languages.
