Towards a theory of pronominal verb constructions in Spanish
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Grant Armstrong
Abstract
This paper proposes a unified account of three types of constructions in which the se clitic appears, which are dubbed pronominal verb constructions (PVCs) . unaccusatives like acatarrar-se (get sick), unergatives like quejar-se (complain) and transitives like zampar-se algo (to wolf something down). The main claims are (i) that the verbs in question represent classes that are specified to select a “defective” head (= a head that does not introduce a theta role and/or assign case) in their predicate-argument argument structure and (ii) Spanish marks such defective heads as [ϕ], a diacritic that triggers insertion of se post-syntactically at T. The different classes of PVCs are derived from the type of defective head that is selected, Voice[ϕ] in the case of intransitives and P[ϕ] in the case of transitives.
Abstract
This paper proposes a unified account of three types of constructions in which the se clitic appears, which are dubbed pronominal verb constructions (PVCs) . unaccusatives like acatarrar-se (get sick), unergatives like quejar-se (complain) and transitives like zampar-se algo (to wolf something down). The main claims are (i) that the verbs in question represent classes that are specified to select a “defective” head (= a head that does not introduce a theta role and/or assign case) in their predicate-argument argument structure and (ii) Spanish marks such defective heads as [ϕ], a diacritic that triggers insertion of se post-syntactically at T. The different classes of PVCs are derived from the type of defective head that is selected, Voice[ϕ] in the case of intransitives and P[ϕ] in the case of transitives.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction ix
- Towards a theory of assertion structure 1
- Towards a theory of pronominal verb constructions in Spanish 21
- On the grammaticality of recomplementation in Spanish 39
- Synchronic change in a multidialectal Spanish community 53
- Exploring the syntax-semantics-prosody interface 73
- Generalized gradability and extremeness in Puerto Rican Spanish 95
- On the mistaken identity of negated epistemics 111
- The mestizo speech 131
- Stressed clitics in Argentine Spanish 149
- On the simplification of a prosodic inventory 171
- Segmental anchoring in Peruvian Amazonian Spanish intonation 191
- The prosody-pragmatics interface in the pragmaticalization of ¡Hombre! as a discourse marker 211
- Sociolinguistic implications on perception 241
- Vosotros , ustedes , and the myth of the symmetrical Castilian pronoun system 263
- Microvariation in the Null Subject Parameter 281
- An analysis of subjunctive frequency and semantic predictors of mood in Central Argentinian Spanish 301
- The future is in the past 317
- Double possession in Peruvian Amazonian Spanish 335
- Index 355
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction ix
- Towards a theory of assertion structure 1
- Towards a theory of pronominal verb constructions in Spanish 21
- On the grammaticality of recomplementation in Spanish 39
- Synchronic change in a multidialectal Spanish community 53
- Exploring the syntax-semantics-prosody interface 73
- Generalized gradability and extremeness in Puerto Rican Spanish 95
- On the mistaken identity of negated epistemics 111
- The mestizo speech 131
- Stressed clitics in Argentine Spanish 149
- On the simplification of a prosodic inventory 171
- Segmental anchoring in Peruvian Amazonian Spanish intonation 191
- The prosody-pragmatics interface in the pragmaticalization of ¡Hombre! as a discourse marker 211
- Sociolinguistic implications on perception 241
- Vosotros , ustedes , and the myth of the symmetrical Castilian pronoun system 263
- Microvariation in the Null Subject Parameter 281
- An analysis of subjunctive frequency and semantic predictors of mood in Central Argentinian Spanish 301
- The future is in the past 317
- Double possession in Peruvian Amazonian Spanish 335
- Index 355
