Microsyntactic variation in the Basque hearsay evidential
-
Ricardo Etxepare
Abstract
This paper studies the syntactic distribution of the Basque hearsay evidential omen across Basque dialects. We test the hypothesis that the complex dialectal variation regarding the syntactic distribution exhibited by omen follows from a basic syntactic microparameter: in central varieties the features that constitute the hearsay evidentialare projected as part of the clausal spine; in Eastern varieties, those features are compiled as a separate syntactic term, merged as the Specifier of an independent Evidential Head. This microparameter accounts in a unified way for most of the differences in the syntactic distribution of the evidential. Together with this basic microparameter, the comparative study of Basque dialects seems to support the idea that certain functional projections (like NegP, FocP or EvP) may appear in more than one position in the cartography of the clause, and more specifically, at the edge of cyclic domains.
Abstract
This paper studies the syntactic distribution of the Basque hearsay evidential omen across Basque dialects. We test the hypothesis that the complex dialectal variation regarding the syntactic distribution exhibited by omen follows from a basic syntactic microparameter: in central varieties the features that constitute the hearsay evidentialare projected as part of the clausal spine; in Eastern varieties, those features are compiled as a separate syntactic term, merged as the Specifier of an independent Evidential Head. This microparameter accounts in a unified way for most of the differences in the syntactic distribution of the evidential. Together with this basic microparameter, the comparative study of Basque dialects seems to support the idea that certain functional projections (like NegP, FocP or EvP) may appear in more than one position in the cartography of the clause, and more specifically, at the edge of cyclic domains.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introductory chapters
- Microparameters in the Grammar of Basque 3
- On Basque dialects 15
-
Case and Agreement
- On the relation between ergativity, stativity and the verbal configuration of Basque 39
- Datives in Basque bivalent unergatives 67
- Differential object marking in Basque varieties 93
- Gaps and stopgaps in Basque finite verb agreement* 139
-
Determiners
- Nominals in Basque and their existential interpretation 195
-
Word order and left periphery
- Strategies of verb and verb phrase focus across Basque dialects 221
- Strategies for argument and adjunct focalization in Basque 243
- Microsyntactic variation in the Basque hearsay evidential 265
- Index of Basque varieties mentioned in the text 289
- Name Index 291
- Subject Index 297
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Introductory chapters
- Microparameters in the Grammar of Basque 3
- On Basque dialects 15
-
Case and Agreement
- On the relation between ergativity, stativity and the verbal configuration of Basque 39
- Datives in Basque bivalent unergatives 67
- Differential object marking in Basque varieties 93
- Gaps and stopgaps in Basque finite verb agreement* 139
-
Determiners
- Nominals in Basque and their existential interpretation 195
-
Word order and left periphery
- Strategies of verb and verb phrase focus across Basque dialects 221
- Strategies for argument and adjunct focalization in Basque 243
- Microsyntactic variation in the Basque hearsay evidential 265
- Index of Basque varieties mentioned in the text 289
- Name Index 291
- Subject Index 297
