The present paper argues, in the line of Chomsky (1998), that the EPP(Extended Projection Principle)-feature of T may not be universally obligatory as the EPP-feature of phase heads v/C varies parametrically among languages and if available is optiona...
The present paper argues, in the line of Chomsky (1998), that the EPP(Extended Projection Principle)-feature of T may not be universally obligatory as the EPP-feature of phase heads v/C varies parametrically among languages and if available is optional. Accepting the idea of Fox (1998) and Chomsky (1999), we propose that optional operations can apply only if they have an effect on outcome and that the EPP position of T in Spanish can be optionally assigned interpretive complex INT(semantic interpretation such as topic). On the basis of Spanish data, we claim that T in Spanish can have EPP optional feature. As a result of this claim, we point out that (ⅰ) VSO orders lack an expletive pro, (ⅱ) in the languages that don't have EPP feature obligatorily, there will not be a lexical expletive as 'it' in English or 'il' in French, (ⅲ) in Spanish (XP)VS word order, the preverbal XP constituent(including 'subject') will occupy the [Spec, TP] position, checking the EPP optional feature of T and, as a result, showing the INT semantic effect such as a topic interpretation.