View source for A-over-A

In [[generative grammar]], the '''A-over-A principle''' says that if a rule ambiguously refers to A in a structure of the form of (i), the rule must apply to the higher, more inclusive, node A (Chomsky 1964). 

===Examples===
This principle prevents extraction of the [[NP]] ''Africa'' out of the [[NP]] ''my trip to Africa'' in which it is included in (ii)b, but allows the more inclusive [[NP]] to be fronted in (ii)c.

  (i)	 ... [<sub>A</sub> ... [<sub>A</sub> ... 
  (ii) a ''I won't forget [<sub>NP</sub> my trip to [<sub>NP</sub> Africa ]].'' 
       b ''*Africa, I won't forget my trip to''
       c ''my trip to Africa, I won't forget''

===Comment===
More recently, the A-over-A principle has been reduced to principles such as the [[ECP]]. 

===See also===
[[island condition]]

===Link===
[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=A-over-A&lemmacode=1030 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] 

===References===
*{{: Chomsky 1964}}
*Ross, J.R. 1967. Constraints on variables in syntax. Doctoral dissertation. MIT (published as ''Infinite syntax!'' Ablex, Norwood 1986).

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[[Category:Syntax]]