Clausal architecture of chukchansi yokuts

In this thesis I examine scrambling and clausal structure in Chukchansi Yokuts, following a general hypothesis of XP movement to landing sites in the clausal left periphery (Rizzi 1997). I analyze focus and topic constructions and verb-first word order as phenomena derived from movement to the left periphery, and assess the status of several categories as XPs using movement as a diagnostic. I also examine island and crossover effects related to this movement.