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On the asymmetry of root versus embedded clauses

Evidence from Shipibo second position clitics

Abstract

This paper addresses a systematic asymmetry between main and embedded clauses in Shipibo, an Amazonian language of the Pano family that shows certain verb-second properties. These properties are reduced to the asymmetry in the nature of the projections at the edge of the two clause types. In particular, the comparison between Shipibo and Germanic-type V2-languages leads us to propose two parameters. The first one requires the highest position of a strong phase to be filled, deriving the V2-like properties of Shipibo and Germanic; and the second one determines whether the highest projection is an extended +V projection (Germanic) or not (Shipibo). This parameter accounts for why Shipibo has an obligatory second position clitic (as opposed to a verb).

Abstract

This paper addresses a systematic asymmetry between main and embedded clauses in Shipibo, an Amazonian language of the Pano family that shows certain verb-second properties. These properties are reduced to the asymmetry in the nature of the projections at the edge of the two clause types. In particular, the comparison between Shipibo and Germanic-type V2-languages leads us to propose two parameters. The first one requires the highest position of a strong phase to be filled, deriving the V2-like properties of Shipibo and Germanic; and the second one determines whether the highest projection is an extended +V projection (Germanic) or not (Shipibo). This parameter accounts for why Shipibo has an obligatory second position clitic (as opposed to a verb).

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Edges
  6. Why edges are needed 11
  7. Bare nouns with different edges 23
  8. Implicit agentivity without agents in the syntax 47
  9. On the edge -feature of particles, interjections, and short answers 67
  10. The grammar of polarity particles in Romanian 87
  11. Part II. Heads and projections
  12. Evidentials as generalized functional heads 127
  13. On the pre-theoretical notion phrasal head 151
  14. Predication and the nature of non-finite relatives in Romance 191
  15. On the asymmetry of root versus embedded clauses 215
  16. The cartography of phases 233
  17. Index 263
Edges, Heads, and Projections
This chapter is in the book Edges, Heads, and Projections
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.156.13cam

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of contributors vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Edges
  6. Why edges are needed 11
  7. Bare nouns with different edges 23
  8. Implicit agentivity without agents in the syntax 47
  9. On the edge -feature of particles, interjections, and short answers 67
  10. The grammar of polarity particles in Romanian 87
  11. Part II. Heads and projections
  12. Evidentials as generalized functional heads 127
  13. On the pre-theoretical notion phrasal head 151
  14. Predication and the nature of non-finite relatives in Romance 191
  15. On the asymmetry of root versus embedded clauses 215
  16. The cartography of phases 233
  17. Index 263
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