Language Research

Abstract The present study investigates Azari-Turkish wh-words within the framework of minimalism. The analysis of wh-in-situ data shows that [+Q] &ki/kïparticle are syntactically in complementary distribution in Azari-Turkish. When a wh-word is bound by [+Q] in C-position, it is interpreted as interrogative element. If, on the other hand, the wh-word is bound by ki/kïparticle which appears in C-position, it is assigned only non-interrogative reading. The non-subject wh-words are scrambled to clause initial position in Azari-Turkish. They are scrambled to [Spec, Foc P] & [Spec, Top P] to satisfy focus and topic features. The scrambling is A’-movement, because it is a movement to non-argument position. The findings of the present study are in contrast to those of previous studies which assume C-position for null Q-operator & [Spec, TP] for scrambled wh-words.