This paper argues that there is no domain on Agree, but there must be an activation domain for a goal on a wh‐phrase. The activation domain varies with respect to whether it is for the wh‐arguments, or for the wh‐adjunct ‘why’. It is further claimed that a defective probe is allowed to occur on a declarative C in Korean, Japanese and Chinese so as to trigger successive cyclic Agree, just like successive cyclic wh‐movement via a defective C in English. These proposals will contribute to accounting for the asymmetric distribution of the wh‐arguments and the wh‐adjunct ‘why’ in the Islands, as well as for the symmetric distribution of them in the declarative clause, without resort to covert movement of whs‐in‐situ including the wh‐adjunct ‘why’.
1. Introduction
2. Phase Impenetrability Condition and Extractability
3. Revisions
4. Concluding Remarks