Denominal necessity modals in Basque
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Ricardo Etxepare
Abstract
Basque has a noun meaning need and a modal form, traditionally classified as verbal, homophonous to it, as in English. This paper provides a derivational account of the relation between the nominal and the so-called verbal need in Basque, by claiming that the purported verbal cases are derived from the nominal ones. This derivational relation, we argue, does not follow from the incorporation of the Basque modal noun into a verbal head, as has been recently claimed for English need (Kayne and Harves, 2012). The necessity modal forms an independent clausal constituent with a DP or a non-finite clause representing the content of the need as its sole argument. This clausal constituent is merged to an applicative head that introduces in the structure the experiencer of the need. The Basque modal construction resembles in this regard the nominal modal constructions found in Celtic languages such as Irish, Scottish Gaelic or Breton. This structure is merged with an intransitive verb BE, which provides the verbal support for the construction. The incorporation of the applicative head to BE results in the transitive auxiliary have in Basque, a phenomenon that we show to be independently attested outside the modal cases.
Abstract
Basque has a noun meaning need and a modal form, traditionally classified as verbal, homophonous to it, as in English. This paper provides a derivational account of the relation between the nominal and the so-called verbal need in Basque, by claiming that the purported verbal cases are derived from the nominal ones. This derivational relation, we argue, does not follow from the incorporation of the Basque modal noun into a verbal head, as has been recently claimed for English need (Kayne and Harves, 2012). The necessity modal forms an independent clausal constituent with a DP or a non-finite clause representing the content of the need as its sole argument. This clausal constituent is merged to an applicative head that introduces in the structure the experiencer of the need. The Basque modal construction resembles in this regard the nominal modal constructions found in Celtic languages such as Irish, Scottish Gaelic or Breton. This structure is merged with an intransitive verb BE, which provides the verbal support for the construction. The incorporation of the applicative head to BE results in the transitive auxiliary have in Basque, a phenomenon that we show to be independently attested outside the modal cases.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. DPs and quantification
- The DP Hypothesis in the grammar of Basque 21
- The way the definite determiner affects quantifiers in Basque (and beyond) 79
- An overview of Basque measure phrases 111
- Number agreement in Basque 149
- Synchronic ubiquity of the Basque article -a: A look from diachrony 179
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Part II. Nominal expressions and predicative configurations
- Genitive case and multiple checking in Basque 209
- Predication markers in Basque 243
- Word order in Basque determiner phrases 267
- Denominal necessity modals in Basque 283
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Part III. Clausal nominalizations
- Basque nominalizations and the role of structural Case in the licensing of null arguments 333
- Structural dependency and interpretation in Basque nominalized clauses 375
- Perception verb complements in Basque 397
- A continuum of deficiency for Basque infinitives 437
- Language index 461
- Subject index 463
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. DPs and quantification
- The DP Hypothesis in the grammar of Basque 21
- The way the definite determiner affects quantifiers in Basque (and beyond) 79
- An overview of Basque measure phrases 111
- Number agreement in Basque 149
- Synchronic ubiquity of the Basque article -a: A look from diachrony 179
-
Part II. Nominal expressions and predicative configurations
- Genitive case and multiple checking in Basque 209
- Predication markers in Basque 243
- Word order in Basque determiner phrases 267
- Denominal necessity modals in Basque 283
-
Part III. Clausal nominalizations
- Basque nominalizations and the role of structural Case in the licensing of null arguments 333
- Structural dependency and interpretation in Basque nominalized clauses 375
- Perception verb complements in Basque 397
- A continuum of deficiency for Basque infinitives 437
- Language index 461
- Subject index 463
