How to apply multiple scrambling in Japanese

In this paper, I argue that the phenomena of multiple scrambling in Japanese are best captured by assuming different derivations, depending on whether they involve long‐distance or clause‐internal scrambling. I argue that long‐distance multiple scrambling involves remnant VP scrambling, on the assumption that long‐distance scrambling necessarily produces a focus chain, which thus prohibits separate applications of scrambling in multiple scrambling configurations. The evidence comes from (i) long‐distance multiple scrambling of wh‐phrases that behaves like wh‐movement, and (ii) long‐distance multiple scrambling of quantificational phrases (QPs) that behaves as if these QPs constitute a single QP. As for clause‐internal multiple scrambling, I argue that it may involve separate applications of scrambling as well as remnant VP scrambling. The evidence comes from scope facts that involve two scrambled QPs: when the two QPs undergo remnant VP scrambling, they both take scope in their original positions; when they are separately scrambled, they show a different pattern of reconstruction with respect to scope.