Abstract

This paper aims to explore syntactic microvariation in Catalan dialects as a source of insight into the nature of restructuring contexts and long-distance dependencies. We claim that restructuring involves a bi-clausal structure with a defective embedded domain. We provide evidence for this analysis by exploring the positions of clitics and presuppositional negative markers in restructuring contexts in Catalan varieties. On the one hand, the data collected highlights that, although clitic climbing and embedded presuppositional negation are independent phenomena, they can both be explained by the transparency of the embedded clausal boundary. On the other hand, dialectal data evince the existence of an ongoing syntactic change in the restructuring nature of some verbs. Furthermore, data collected confirms the validity of long-distance licensing as a transparency effect. This hypothesis is corroborated by the exploration of the same phenomena in subjunctive contexts.

Abstract

This is a comparative study of the different positions of postverbal subjects in two closely related languages that nevertheless show clear differences in this respect. The comparative study will allow us to reject the idea that postverbal subjects in Romance languages are in a unique in situ position Spec VP as has been proposed recently (Motapayane1995, Ordóñez 1998, Costa 2000, Alexiadou i Anagnostopoulou 2001, Cardinaletti 2001). On the contrary, this study will show clearly that there is a need for two positions for postverbal subjects in order to understand the parametric differences between Catalan and Spanish. The general hypothesis will be that the subjects can access a higher Spec of what I will call SubjP, but not Catalan. This will account for the different distribution of subjects respects to adverbs, quantifiers, and restructuring contexts. This paper clearly shows that a finer and richer functional structure above VP and below the final landing site of subjects is needed to account for the differences between Catalan and Spanish. Therefore, this paper is another contribution to the cartographic studies initiated by Rizzi (1997).

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of changes in transport taxation in European countries to promote more sustainable transport. A number of changes in the framework of car taxation have resulted in some useful environmental gains. However, these changes are limited because the transport tax system has been designed to produce a substantial income from internal-combustion-engine vehicles in an easily administered form. A major restructuring of transport taxation is required to fully address a different goal – that of stimulating improvements to environmental performance. A generalised road user charging-based system could be the way forward. Such a system is now seen by several European countries and some USA states as the transport taxation regime for the 21st century. \\ud \\ud Tax regime change is emerging onto the transport policy agenda as a vital long-term strategy. Largely by default, transport policy-makers are coming to realise that road taxation regime change is inevitable if traffic and congestion management is to be a reality. The way we taxed vehicles and fuel in the 20th century is simply not appropriate for the transport challenges we face today. Document type: Part of book or chapter of book