Startseite Linguistik & Semiotik On the interpretability of φ-features
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On the interpretability of φ-features

  • Roberto Zamparelli
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The Bantu–Romance Connection
Ein Kapitel aus dem Buch The Bantu–Romance Connection

Abstract

The paper reconsiders the evidence for the interpretable status of φ-features within DP in Romance languages, focusing on Italian. The conclusions are that, given a reasonably local interpretation of what counts as interpretable, gender is not an interpretable feature, and number (or plur, in the sense of Heycock & Zamparelli 2005) is interpretable, but is not sufficient to drive the process of verbal and predicative agreement. The notion of “default”, particularly with respect to the Person feature, is discussed and various alternatives are explored.

Abstract

The paper reconsiders the evidence for the interpretable status of φ-features within DP in Romance languages, focusing on Italian. The conclusions are that, given a reasonably local interpretation of what counts as interpretable, gender is not an interpretable feature, and number (or plur, in the sense of Heycock & Zamparelli 2005) is interpretable, but is not sufficient to drive the process of verbal and predicative agreement. The notion of “default”, particularly with respect to the Person feature, is discussed and various alternatives are explored.

Heruntergeladen am 14.12.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/la.131.11zam/html?lang=de
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