Research Article

LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH

Volume: 35 May 18, 2026
TR EN

LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH

Abstract

The study focuses on the extractions out of exceptional case marking (ECM) structures in Turkish. It analyzes the arguments and adjuncts that originate within the ECM constructions and move to the verb final position. In this regard, scrambling to the background position of both embedded and main clauses are examined. The data of the study were collected through three data collection tools: a grammaticality judgment test, a self-paced reading task and a sentence completion task. 255 participants (86 men, 169 women, mean age: 20.4) who attend several universities of Turkey took part in the study. While selecting the participants, it was ensured that they did not receive prior information on the target structures. As the findings regarding scrambling to the matrix clause edge reveal, despite variation among target constructions, all such extractions were judged to be less acceptable than control sentences. In this respect, there exists a reverse asymmetry between Type 1 and Type 2 ECM clauses with regard to subjects and objects. As for adjuncts, they yield problems in both types. The study puts forward that the source of the problem is divergent depending on the given structure and the constituent in question. With regard to the rightward movement to the embedded clause edge, all target structures were found to be less acceptable and processed more slowly than control sentences. Regardless of the category of the constituent shifted to the right periphery, such movements result in ungrammaticality, which proves that ECM clauses have defective CPs that lack the necessary uninterpretable feature required to license extraction.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Çalışma Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi BAP birimi tarafından desteklenmektedir. Proje no: 23SBA21001.

Project Number

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırmalar Birimi Proje No: 23SBA21001

Ethical Statement

Çalışma NEU Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırmalar Etik Kurulunun 08.09.2023 tarihli 2023/390 no’lu kararı ile etik onayı almıştır.

Thanks

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi BAP birimine desteği için teşekkür ederim.

References

  1. Arslan-Kechriotis, C. (2016). A new look at exceptional case marking in Turkish. In E. A. Csato et. al. (Eds.), The Uppsala Meeting: Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Turkish Linguistics (pp. 34-44). Harrassowitz Verlag.
  2. Aygen, G. (2002). T-to-C: Extractable subjects and EPP in Turkish. In V. Samiian (Ed.), The proceedings of the Western Conference on Linguistics (pp. 65-80). California State University.
  3. Chomsky, N. (2000). Minimalist inquiries: The framework. In R. Martin, D. Michaels, & J. Uriagereka (Eds.), Step by step: Essays on minimalist syntax in honor of Howard Lasnik (pp. 89–155). MIT Press.
  4. Chomsky, N. (2001). Derivation by phase. In M. Kenstowicz (Ed.), Ken Hale: A life in language (pp. 1–52). MIT Press.
  5. Erguvanlı, Taylan, E. E. (1984). The function of word order in Turkish grammar. University of California Press.
  6. Gallego, A. J. (2009). Defective C-T in Romance. Probus, 21, 163-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/prbs.2009.006
  7. İnce, A. (2006). A proleptic analysis of ECMs in Turkish [Conference presentation]. ECO-5, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  8. İnce, A. (2012). Distinctness, case and scrambling in Turkish. Accessed in 12.06.2024 from: https://babel.usc.edu/hank/ince.pdf

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Language Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 18, 2026

Submission Date

April 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 9, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 35

APA
Çakır, S. (2026). LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 35. https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1673171
AMA
1.Çakır S. LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2026;35. doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1673171
Chicago
Çakır, Sinan. 2026. “LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 35 (May). https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1673171.
EndNote
Çakır S (May 1, 2026) LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 35
IEEE
[1]S. Çakır, “LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH”, Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, vol. 35, May 2026, doi: 10.35379/cusosbil.1673171.
ISNAD
Çakır, Sinan. “LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 35 (May 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1673171.
JAMA
1.Çakır S. LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2026;35. doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1673171.
MLA
Çakır, Sinan. “LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, vol. 35, May 2026, doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1673171.
Vancouver
1.Sinan Çakır. LONG DISTANCE RIGHTWARD MOVEMENT OUT OF ECM CLAUSES IN TURKISH. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2026 May 1;35. doi:10.35379/cusosbil.1673171