ASYMMETRIES IN RECONSTRUCTION

It has been observed that reconstruction/connectivity appears to be ob ligatory for predicates, but optional for arguments. Huang (1993) has argued that this is because moved predicates obligatorily contain a tr ace of the subject; it follows that subjects must be generated within the smallest maximal projection of the predicate. This article argues, however, that the argument/predicate contrast is just a subcase of a referential/nonreferential contrast in reconstruction. Nonreferential phrases, including predicates, must take narrow scope at LF, whereas r eferential phrases can remain in their displaced positions. Assuming t hat the binding conditions apply at LF, the observed asymmetries are e xplained.