Deriving complex verbs using Merge

This thesis aims to develop a means of deriving inflected verbs that does not rely on the head
movement (HM) operation. Guided by the Strong Minimalist Thesis, I argue that HM is problematic
for empirical and theoretical reasons. Accordingly, I put forward an alternative means
of deriving complex verbs which uses only theoretical gadgets needed for external reasons,
e.g. Merge, a workspace, copying, Agree and labelling. Combining these five elements allows
complex verbs to be derived outside of the clausal spine in the same way as internal and
external arguments. The verb is built in the workspace using external Merge and then each
element of the verb is copied. Copying is facilitated by assuming that Merge is untriggered;
that the workspace can contain multiple structures, and finally that constituents can be Merged
from one structure into another, an operation referred to as parallel Merge in the literature (e.g.
Citko 2005). Once the complex verb is built, each element of the verb is copied using parallel
Merge which allows the clausal spine to be generated. With this system there is no correlation
between a verb’s position and its level of inflection since it is built before being attached to
the clausal spine. Once the new system has been developed, it is applied to a set of so called
multiple copy Spell-Out constructions and found to have benefits that HM is lacking. The
data includes predicate cleft constructions, verbal repetition constructions and finally, heavily
inflected verbs from Kiowa. The parallel Merge alternative is particularly beneficial for data
where two copies of an element are pronounced but with different forms, e.g. a tensed verb and
an infinitive verb, because each copy is independently generated in the workspace.