Syntactic positions of attributive adjectives
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Nadira Aljović
Abstract
The present contribution studies the syntax of long- and short-form adjectives in Serbocroatian. The discussion draws particularly on data from the Bosnian variant that marks long- and short-forms by vowel-length and pitch-accent in addition to inflectional suffixes. Based on evidence from ellipsis, noun phraseinternal coordination and ordering of multiple adjectives, I propose two different structures for attributive long- and short-form adjectives: attributive long-form adjectives occupy the specifier of a functional projection dominating NumP, while short-form attributive adjectives are adjoined to NumP. I also show that this analysis contributes to explain the differences in agreement morphology observed between long- and short-form adjectives. Finally, I propose to extend the present analysis to German.
Abstract
The present contribution studies the syntax of long- and short-form adjectives in Serbocroatian. The discussion draws particularly on data from the Bosnian variant that marks long- and short-forms by vowel-length and pitch-accent in addition to inflectional suffixes. Based on evidence from ellipsis, noun phraseinternal coordination and ordering of multiple adjectives, I propose two different structures for attributive long- and short-form adjectives: attributive long-form adjectives occupy the specifier of a functional projection dominating NumP, while short-form attributive adjectives are adjoined to NumP. I also show that this analysis contributes to explain the differences in agreement morphology observed between long- and short-form adjectives. Finally, I propose to extend the present analysis to German.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Adjectives 1
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Part I. Syntax
- Syntactic positions of attributive adjectives 29
- The syntactic differences between long and short forms of Russian adjectives 53
- The name of the adjective 85
- Adjectives in Mandarin Chinese 115
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Part II. Semantics
- Comparisons of similarity and difference 155
- Characterizing superlative quantifiers 187
- Superlative adjectives and the licensing of non-modal infinitival subject relatives 233
- Sentential complementation of adjectives in French 265
- Spanish adjectives within bounds 307
- Languages index 333
- Subject index 335
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Adjectives 1
-
Part I. Syntax
- Syntactic positions of attributive adjectives 29
- The syntactic differences between long and short forms of Russian adjectives 53
- The name of the adjective 85
- Adjectives in Mandarin Chinese 115
-
Part II. Semantics
- Comparisons of similarity and difference 155
- Characterizing superlative quantifiers 187
- Superlative adjectives and the licensing of non-modal infinitival subject relatives 233
- Sentential complementation of adjectives in French 265
- Spanish adjectives within bounds 307
- Languages index 333
- Subject index 335
