Superiority Effects In English Multiple Wh-questions And Their Interpretations

English Multiple Wh-questions show superiority effects. Superiority effects refer to the phenomenon in multiple wh-questions a wh-expression is superior to the other to move to the sentence initial position. English multiple wh-questions show Superiority effects as wh-subject is superior to wh-object, wh-indirect-object to wh-direct-object and wh-adjunct to wh-argument. This thesis takes Pesetsky's multiple spec requirements to analyze the superiority effect in English multiple wh-questions. The closest wh-expression in English multiple wh-questions is first overtly attracted to the Spec CP to check its wh-feature, the other wh-expressions are restricted by the pronunciation rule and covertly move its wh-feature to get their wh-feature checked. In a question containing wh-adjunct and wh-argument, the wh-feature of the adjunct force it to move to the Spec CP to check the feature, though this movement violates the AC principle. The wh-arguments move their wh-feature overtly and get these wh-features checked. This thesis goes on to analyze the superiority violation by the D-linked wh-expressions. The D-linked wh-expression has a D-link feature as well as wh-feature, this D-linked feature makes the D-linked wh-expression can undergo either overt wh-movement or covert feature movement. Multiple Spec requirements have a good explanation to both the superiority effects and the absence of superiority effect in English multiple wh-questions.This thesis also has an analysis of Chinese multiple wh-questions. Chinese multiple wh-questions also shows superiority effect as wh-subject precedes wh-object, wh-indirect- object precedes wh-direct-object. However, the wh-adjunct cannot co-ouucre with the wh-argument in Chinese multiple wh-questions. Chinese is a wh-in-situ language, so it allows both single-pair and pair-list readings, while syntactic movement of a wh-phrase to Spec CP in English multiple wh-questions results in the loss of single-pair readings and forces the pair-list reading.