Edge Feature, D-effects, and Movement

This paper discusses the non-deterministic theory of movement based on the notion of edge feature (EF) (Chomsky 2005). It will be claimed that the theory of movement based on EF, i.e., the theory of unmarked vs. marked IM, is more explanatory than the deterministic probe-goal checking theory of movement (Chomsky 2000, 2001). Specifically, the notion of unmarked IM is motivated as a movement that should be Agree-free, whereas the notion of marked IM is motivated as a restricted obligatory movement. The unmarked IM is characterized as inducing the default semantic effect called "D-effect", which is simply due to the optionality of the operation of unmarked IM itself (Fox 2000), whereas the marked IM is characterized as induced by blocking the "optional deletion" of the EF. It will be argued that interactions between unmarked and marked IMs account for various syntactic issues like intermediate links of successive-cyclic movements. The notion of Agree independent of movement is motivated for the non-deterministic theory of movement.