Trace theory

Definition
Trace theory is theory about traces left by movement. This theory assumes that if an element X has been moved in the course of a derivation, it has left a trace in its original position.

Example
In (i) the NP John is moved while leaving a trace t, indicating its d-structure position.

(i) Johniseems [tito have left]

Since theta-marking occurs at d-structure, it is possible to determine the thematic role of the moved NP via its trace. The concept of a trace is crucial to the theory of movement and to bounding theory, because a trace can be treated as an empty category. See NP-trace, wh-trace.

Links

 * Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics