Degree inversion and negative intensifier inversion in the English DP
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Erika Troseth
Abstract
This article argues for a predicative analysis of certain adjectives in two varieties of inverted Determiner Phrases: degree inverted DPs, as in Rasheed is too hot-tempered a player and negative intensifier inverted DPs, as in The Conformist isn't very good of a movie. In the case of degree inversion, movement is connected to a degree feature and inversion is licensed within the DP. In the case of negative intensifier inversion, movement is connected to a DP-internal negative feature, and again inversion is licensed within the DP. A case is made in support of distinguishing degree words like too and as from intensifiers like very and particularly on the basis of their ability to license inversion alone or only in combination with negation.
©Walter de Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- From edgemost to lexical stress: Diachronic paths, typology and representation
- Degree inversion and negative intensifier inversion in the English DP
- Getting the (syntactic) measure of Measure Phrases
- Recursive linearization
- Laurel J. Brinton and Elizabeth Closs Traugott, Lexicalization and Language Change
Articles in the same Issue
- From edgemost to lexical stress: Diachronic paths, typology and representation
- Degree inversion and negative intensifier inversion in the English DP
- Getting the (syntactic) measure of Measure Phrases
- Recursive linearization
- Laurel J. Brinton and Elizabeth Closs Traugott, Lexicalization and Language Change
