When a WH-phrase (WP) moves to the Spec of a phase head in an English multiple WH-question, it seems to obey the order restriction rules of feature transferring (FT). FT always occurs to the first conjunct which forms a feature-clustered syntactic object (SO) in a FT coordinate structure. Only an expletive (EXPL) there to which all the features of the associate NP are transferred may undergo movement to the Spec-C. Only a feature-clustered EXPL it/φit may move to the Spec-T. A matrix phase head C may be transformed into C(feature freezing: FF) by the external Merge (EM) of a question word whether in an embedded clause. An embedded phase head C may also be transformed into C(FF) by the internal Merge (IM) of a WH-phrase in a clausal complement of think or say.
1. Introduction
2. The Cluster of Phrases
3. Feature Transferring
4. Feature Freezing
5. Conclusion