Feature representation and -tu(pas) in Quebec French (Force operators, mood-force expressions)

This paper offers an analysis of tu(pas) in Quebec French in terms of featu re composition. It is proposed that the features of tu are checked both at PF and LF. It is argued that tu represents a PF reflex of an emphatic stres s on the last syllable of the prosodic unit Vfinite+tu and it is a LF refle x of a reinforcer in the internal domain of TP for certain types of mood-fo rce expressions. However, it is not an inherent illocutionary Force marker. It is illustrated how tu pas creates an aspectual effect in discourse and is connected to predicates with a built-in terminal point. Even though tu p as must sometimes appear obligatorily together in the proposition, the two forms bring a different contribution to the meaning of the sentence. It is argued that tu is a Force operator identified in the CP domain at LF and pa s is a negative marker which is interpretated with a reverse positive polar ity when it scopes over tu.