Basque nominalizations and the role of structural Case in the licensing of null arguments
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Maia Duguine
Abstract
This article investigates the question of the licensing of null arguments in the so-called pro-drop languages. By focusing on the licensing of null subjects in the different types of -T(Z)E nominalizations in Basque, it aims at defining in a precise way the crucial feature that makes pro-drop possible in a clause. The central claim is that what licenses subject-drop is the assignment of structural Case. That is, it is argued that a subject can be null if and only if it is assigned structural Case. Different aspects of T(Z)E nominalizations are also explored, which show that even if these clauses are similar on the surface, they can be syntactically very different and furthermore, that infinitive clauses marked with the same nominalizing morpheme can also have diverging structures.
Abstract
This article investigates the question of the licensing of null arguments in the so-called pro-drop languages. By focusing on the licensing of null subjects in the different types of -T(Z)E nominalizations in Basque, it aims at defining in a precise way the crucial feature that makes pro-drop possible in a clause. The central claim is that what licenses subject-drop is the assignment of structural Case. That is, it is argued that a subject can be null if and only if it is assigned structural Case. Different aspects of T(Z)E nominalizations are also explored, which show that even if these clauses are similar on the surface, they can be syntactically very different and furthermore, that infinitive clauses marked with the same nominalizing morpheme can also have diverging structures.
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
