This paper proposes an analysis of VP fronting in the VOS Austronesian language Seediq in the theory of Labeling. In the same vein as Massam (Nat Lang Linguist Theory 19:153–197, 2001), I propose that verb-initial word order results at least in part from fronting the verb and object together in the VP when the object is indefinite and nonspecific, but the object vacates the VP when it is specific or definite in order to value case. Following this, either verbal head movement or remnant VP fronting takes place. However, I depart from Massam’s approach when it comes to the motivation for VP fronting. First, I argue that VP movement does not target [Spec, TP] but rather moves no higher than the edge of the clause-medial phase. Consequently, the motivation cannot be satisfaction of the EPP, as Massam claims. Secondly, I show that whether verb-initial word order is obtained through verbal head movement or phrasal VP fronting is a consequence of Labeling. In particular, I go beyond Massam’s approach and account for the fact that when the VP contains more than one internal argument, one of them must move to the case-checking position and the other must be pied-piped with the verb to the phase edge. Otherwise, it will not be possible to label the original VP.

中文翻译：

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Seediq中的标签和动词初始词序

本文提出了标签理论中VOS奥斯丁语语言Seediq中VP前沿的分析。与马萨姆（Nat Lang Linguist Theory 19：153–197，2001）一样，我提出动词-初始词的顺序至少部分是由于宾语是不确定且非特定的，而将动词和宾语放在VP中，但是当对象是特定的或确定的时，该对象会腾出VP以评估大小写。此后，将发生口头移动或残余VP向前移动。但是，在谈到VP前进的动机时，我偏离了Massam的方法。首先，我认为VP移动不是针对[Spec，TP]，而是移动到不高于子句中间阶段的边缘。因此，正如马萨姆所说，动机不能满足于EPP。其次，我表明，动词-初始单词顺序是通过口头移动还是短语VP前置获得的，都是Labeling的结果。特别是，我超越了Massam的方法，并解释了以下事实：当VP包含多个内部参数时，其中一个必须移至大小写检查位置，而另一个必须以动词插入到相位边缘。否则，将无法标记原始VP。