A-position

An abbreviation for argument in GOVERNMENT-BINDING THEORY. A-position is a position in D-STRUCTURE to which an ARGUMENT (or THETA ROLE) can be assigned, such as SUBJECT and OBJECT; also called an argument-position. It contrasts with A-bar-position (or A′-position), also called a non-argument position, which does not allow the assignment of a theta role, such as the position occupied by an initial wh-item (e.g. who in Who did she ask?). The distinction does not have a clear status within the VP-INTERNAL SUBJECT HYPOTHESIS. A binding relation where the ANTECEDENT is in an A-position is said to be A-bound (otherwise, A-free); one to an A-bar-position is A-bar-bound (otherwise, A-bar-free). MOVEMENT to these positions is handled by A-movement and A-bar-movement, respectively.