Pied-piping in degree wh-clauses in Spanish

Abstract

This paper presents a novel analysis of (non)-pied-piping structures in degree wh-clauses with adjectives in Spanish based on the idea in Heck (2008, 2009) that optional pied-piping cannot exist. Under this assumption, it is argued that pied-piping and non-pied-piping structures in the constructions under study originate from two different structures: Pied-piping structures obtain from a standard structural configuration in which the degree wh-form heads a functional phrase in the extended projection of the adjective, whereas the discontinuous structure with cómo de 'how of' ([cómo de+A]) results from a reanalysis process turning de+A into a verbal adjunct. This analysis is extended to related constructions both in Spanish and in other Romance languages, and some apparent counterexamples are also discussed