View source for Wanna-contraction

Phonological contraction of ''want'' and to ''to wanna, going to'' to ''gonna'', etc. In syntax this phenomenon is used in an argument to make a distinction between ''wh''-trace and other empty elements, such as NP-trace or PRO.

 (i)  Why do you want PRO to go	  -&gt; ... wanna go
 (ii) Who<sub>i </sub>do you want t<sub>i </sub>to go  -&gt; *... wanna go

The intervening [[PRO]] subject in (i) does not block wanna-contraction, but the ''wh''-trace in (ii) does.

=== Links ===

[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Wanna-contraction&lemmacode=78 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics]

=== References ===

* Lasnik, H. and M. Saito 1984. ''On the nature of proper government,'' Linguistic Inquiry 15, pp. 235-289
* Riemsdijk, H. van and E. Williams 1986. ''Introduction to the theory of grammar,'' MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

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[[Category:Phonology]]

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