Wanna-contraction

Definition

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	  -> ... wanna go
(ii) Whoi do you want ti to go  -> *... wanna go

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

Links

• 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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