ABSTRACT
This chapter considers some aspects of the distribution and interpretation of negative elements with sentential scope. It proposes to account for the data in terms of the NEG Criterion, which is an instantiation of the AFFECT Criterion, a well-formedness condition on logical form representations. The chapter examines the distribution of negative constituents in Italian. In satisfying the NEG Criterion, either the negative head itself or its trace in the base position is relevant, but in West Flemish only the surface position of the negative operator is relevant. The chapter shows that the distribution of the negative head non in follows from the hypothesis that the NEG Criterion applies to the head of the chain formed by the moved Negative head at S-structure in Italian. Italian also exhibits Negative Concord, whereby two or more negative constituents expressing sentential negation do not each carry negative force but, rather, jointly express a single negation.
