Relative Quantifier Scope and Object Shift

Aoun and Li (1989) and Hornstein (1995) suggest that the cross-linguistic contrast in quantifier scope between English and East Asian languages is attributed to the parametric difference in the base subject position, viz. VP-internal position in English and Spec IP in East Asian languages. This paper argues that their suggestion is untenable, and that the cross linguistic contrast in question is due to the parametric difference that English permits and East Asian languages do not permit (overt) object shift.