Argumenthood, pronouns, and nominal feature geometry
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Elizabeth Cowper
Abstract
This article explores the syntactic and feature-geometric properties of English pronouns, and offers some novel solutions to questions identified by Déchaine & Wiltschko (2002) and Rullmann (2004). Building on work by Cowper & Hall (2003, 2005) and Cowper (2005), we propose denotations and geometrical organizations for features of #, ϕ, and D, and show how these representations and their various syntactic realizations can account for the behaviour of pronouns in English, Halkomelem, and Shuswap. Our analysis provides a consistent interpretation for ϕ, rather than the dual nature proposed by Déchaine & Wiltschko (2002), and eliminates the need for at least one instance of coercion.
Abstract
This article explores the syntactic and feature-geometric properties of English pronouns, and offers some novel solutions to questions identified by Déchaine & Wiltschko (2002) and Rullmann (2004). Building on work by Cowper & Hall (2003, 2005) and Cowper (2005), we propose denotations and geometrical organizations for features of #, ϕ, and D, and show how these representations and their various syntactic realizations can account for the behaviour of pronouns in English, Halkomelem, and Shuswap. Our analysis provides a consistent interpretation for ϕ, rather than the dual nature proposed by Déchaine & Wiltschko (2002), and eliminates the need for at least one instance of coercion.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Determiners 1
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Part I. The features of determiners
- What’s in a determiner and how did it get there? 25
- The proper D connection 67
- Argumenthood, pronouns, and nominal feature geometry 97
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Part II. The function of determiners
- From local blocking to Cyclic Agree 123
- Kinds of predicates and reference to kinds in Hebrew 159
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Part III. Definiteness and beyond
- The semantic core of determiners 177
- On the presence versus absence of determiners in Malagasy 215
- Index 243
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Determiners 1
-
Part I. The features of determiners
- What’s in a determiner and how did it get there? 25
- The proper D connection 67
- Argumenthood, pronouns, and nominal feature geometry 97
-
Part II. The function of determiners
- From local blocking to Cyclic Agree 123
- Kinds of predicates and reference to kinds in Hebrew 159
-
Part III. Definiteness and beyond
- The semantic core of determiners 177
- On the presence versus absence of determiners in Malagasy 215
- Index 243
