Wanna-contraction

Definition
Phonological contraction of want and to to wanna, going to to gonna, etc. In syntax this phenomenon is used in an argument to make a distinction between wh-trace and other empty elements, such as NP-trace or PRO.

(i) Why do you want PRO to go	  -&gt; ... wanna go (ii) Whoido you want tito go -&gt; *... wanna go

The intervening PRO subject in (i) does not block wanna-contraction, but the wh-trace in (ii) does.

Links

 * Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics