Logical Form and the Role of QR

This paper takes up the general characteristics of LF as the interface between grammar and the conceptual-intentional properties of language. Thereby it claims the existence of QR in support of the role of LF, by reviewing the semantic structural representations of basic NPs and quantificational NPs. This paper also shows that by applying QR, we can get logic relations for free and no ambiguities at LF. To justify the QR-scope relations, this paper is in favor of Inverse Linking put forth by May (1977), opposed to Hornstein’s (1995) claim. To present evidence that Hornstein’s claim has several problems, this paper shows a unified account for cross-linguistic data is contingent upon the assumption of the existence of QR, by noting wh-NPs and some problems that Hornstein glosses over in ACD constructions. This paper also shows that feature checking and copy are available when there are restricted and unrestricted readings with QR. Ambiguity is accounted for by copy theory based on restricted-unrestricted relations in the minimalist program, which is not possible without assuming QR. Strong crossover is accounted for by the binding theory. However, weak crossover is not sufficiently accounted for by the binding theory. Though not available at S-structure, a unified account is available at LF, to which the same structural configuration can apply.