Getting the (syntactic) measure of Measure Phrases

Abstract

Taking the quest for symmetry in the analysis of the syntax of measure phrases (MP) as a heuristic background, this article tries to further our understanding of MPs by giving an in-depth, cross-linguistic analysis of adjectival and nominal constructions featuring an MP. It is shown that symmetry is found both at the level of phrase structural organization and at the level of displacement. As for the first level of symmetry, it is argued that MPs are predicate nominals and, as such, typically start out as small clause predicates within the nominal and adjectival projections. As for the second level of symmetry, it is argued that the same types of displacement processes (predicate inversion, remnant movement, head movement) are attested in nominal and adjectival constructions featuring MP. It is further noted that there is an intra-linguistic parallelism between the syntax of MPs and the syntax of possessors.