A continuum of deficiency for Basque infinitives
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Bill Haddican
Abstract
This paper makes two claims about non-finite constituents headed by the affixes -tu/-i/-n/-Ø in Basque. First the semantics of these elements in modal contexts indicates that the standard analysis of these constituents as aspectual phrases is incorrect. We argue that -tu/-i/-n/-Ø are merged as infinitival markers, which we take to be of category n. In perfective contexts the verb+-tu/-i/-n/-Ø raises to a null perfective modal. Second, we argue that differences in behaviour of -tu/-i/-n/-Ø-headed constituents across contexts are usefully expressed in terms of variation in the richness of nominal and verbal functional layers following Alexiadou et al. (2009, 2010, 2011).
Abstract
This paper makes two claims about non-finite constituents headed by the affixes -tu/-i/-n/-Ø in Basque. First the semantics of these elements in modal contexts indicates that the standard analysis of these constituents as aspectual phrases is incorrect. We argue that -tu/-i/-n/-Ø are merged as infinitival markers, which we take to be of category n. In perfective contexts the verb+-tu/-i/-n/-Ø raises to a null perfective modal. Second, we argue that differences in behaviour of -tu/-i/-n/-Ø-headed constituents across contexts are usefully expressed in terms of variation in the richness of nominal and verbal functional layers following Alexiadou et al. (2009, 2010, 2011).
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
