Superiority effect in Russian multiple wh-questions: Experimental study

Kseniia Studenikina
Lomonosov Moscow State University

Abstract. This study deals with the syntax of multiple wh-questions in Russian, mainly superiority effects, d-linking and restrictions on the adverb’s position. The study reviews the existing approaches to the syntax of Russian multiple wh-questions. The experimental part of the study (acceptability judgements) is aimed to check which analysis explains the data more correctly. The experimental study shows that, in contrast to the widely held view, matrix questions, embedded clauses and questions with overt topic show superiority with bare subject (“who”); superiority can be violated with d-linked subject (“which_nom X”). D-linking of object (“whom” or “which_acc X”) appears to be unimportant.

Keywords: multiple wh-questions, superiority effects, d-linking, adverb’s hierarchy, experimental syntax, formal Russian linguistics

For citation: Studenikina K. Superiority effect in Russian multiple wh-questions: Experimental study. Typology of Morphosyntactic Parameters. 2019. Vol. 2, iss. 1. Pp. 119–141. (In Rus.)