The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance
-
Gerardo Fernández-Salgueiro
Abstract
In this paper I propose that the operation of Agree (Chomsky 2000, 2001) is
parameterized with respect to the valuation of Case features. I build here on the
ideas put forward in Fernández-Salgueiro (2005), where I argued that Agree
has to be modified in certain respects in order to generate Further-Raising
constructions, i.e., A-Movement after Spec-Head agreement with ϕ-complete
Tense, which is possible in many Romance languages. If this is not done, Further
Raising constructions incur a violation of economy constraints on movement,
i.e., the principle of Last Resort. I also suggested that Case-F Valuation on subject
DPs can be delayed in most Romance languages, but not in other languages like
English. Here I develop the features of such a parametric approach in more detail,
and comment on acquisition issues and possible consequences for the general
theory of parametric variation as understood in the Minimalist Program.
Abstract
In this paper I propose that the operation of Agree (Chomsky 2000, 2001) is
parameterized with respect to the valuation of Case features. I build here on the
ideas put forward in Fernández-Salgueiro (2005), where I argued that Agree
has to be modified in certain respects in order to generate Further-Raising
constructions, i.e., A-Movement after Spec-Head agreement with ϕ-complete
Tense, which is possible in many Romance languages. If this is not done, Further
Raising constructions incur a violation of economy constraints on movement,
i.e., the principle of Last Resort. I also suggested that Case-F Valuation on subject
DPs can be delayed in most Romance languages, but not in other languages like
English. Here I develop the features of such a parametric approach in more detail,
and comment on acquisition issues and possible consequences for the general
theory of parametric variation as understood in the Minimalist Program.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface & Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
I. The locus of (parametric) variation
- Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universals 75
- Three fundamental issues in parametric linguistics 109
- On the syntactic flexibility of formal features 143
- Expletives, datives, and the tension between morphology and syntax 175
- Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics 219
- Aspect matters in the middle 247
-
II. A classic parameter revisited: the null-subject parameter
- The null subject parameter and correlating properties: The case of Creole languages 271
- The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance 295
- Silent arguments without pro : The case of Basque 311
- Case morphology and radical pro -drop 331
-
III. Parametric clustering
- The macroparameter in a microparametric world 351
- Topic prominence and null subjects 375
- Non-configurationality: Free word order and argument drop in Turkish 411
- Diachronic stability and feature interpretability 441
-
III. The acquisition of parameters
- Can children tell us anything we did not know about parameter clustering? 459
- Parameter setting and input reduction 483
- Index 517
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface & Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
I. The locus of (parametric) variation
- Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universals 75
- Three fundamental issues in parametric linguistics 109
- On the syntactic flexibility of formal features 143
- Expletives, datives, and the tension between morphology and syntax 175
- Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics 219
- Aspect matters in the middle 247
-
II. A classic parameter revisited: the null-subject parameter
- The null subject parameter and correlating properties: The case of Creole languages 271
- The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance 295
- Silent arguments without pro : The case of Basque 311
- Case morphology and radical pro -drop 331
-
III. Parametric clustering
- The macroparameter in a microparametric world 351
- Topic prominence and null subjects 375
- Non-configurationality: Free word order and argument drop in Turkish 411
- Diachronic stability and feature interpretability 441
-
III. The acquisition of parameters
- Can children tell us anything we did not know about parameter clustering? 459
- Parameter setting and input reduction 483
- Index 517
