On extraction from definite DPs

Abstract

This paper discusses the pattern of extraction of genitives out of definite DPs in English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese (BP), with consideration of the Specificity Effect (Fiengo and Higginbotham 1981), a constraint that in English, for instance, prevents extraction from definite/specific DPs, allowing extraction only for indefinite DPs. BP allows extraction from DPs headed by definite and indefinite articles, but blocks extraction from DPs headed by demonstratives. Spanish allows extractions from indefinite DPs and blocks extraction from DPs headed by demonstratives. In addition, it blocks extraction of possessors and agents from DPs headed by definite articles, but allows extraction from themes in this context. In order to theoretically support our proposal, we consider the analysis presented by Ticio (2003, 2006), along with Grohmann's (2000) notion of prolific domains and the restrictions on movement observed by Ticio for Spanish, but with suggested modifications. We suggest that the different patterns of extraction of genitives found in English, Spanish and BP are due to the position in which the article holds, and also due to the category that allows genitives in each of these languages.