This paper aims to elucidate the gradient nature of strength in long-distance A-bar dependencies through a non-binary notion of referentiality. Referentiality is treated as a continuum, defined in set-theoretic terms: between two (wh-)phrases or NPs, A and B, A is considered more referential than B if and only if the denotation of A is drawn from a more narrowly defined set than that of B. The findings are threefold: (i) a sentence-internal A-bar barrier that is more referential among its kind forms a stronger barrier; (ii) a fronted wh-phrase or operator that is more referential more effectively neutralizes the intervening A-bar barrier; and (iii) the wider the referential gap between a fronted wh-phrase and an intervening A-bar barrier, the more transparent the A-bar domain becomes for movement.
1. Introduction
2. Blocking Effects NP Interveners in A-bar Dependencies
3. A Referentiality-Based Account of Gradience in A-Bar Blocking Effects of Intermediate Wh-Phrase Interveners
4. Referentiality and the Strength of Long-Distance A-Bar Dependencies: The Role of Fronted Wh-Phrases
5. Fronted Wh-Phrases and Their Interaction with A-Bar Interveners in Island Structures
6. Remarks on Adjunct Wh-Phrase Extraction
7. Theoretical Rationale for the Proposed Generalizations
8. Directions for Future Research
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