Akahane Hitoshi
Affiliate Master
Yamaguchi University
A phase-theoretic analysis of object omission
English and English-American literature Volume 45
Page 1-37
published_at 2010-12-20
Title
A phase-theoretic analysis of object omission
Source Identifiers
In non-contrastive contexts, object DPs can be omitted to be defocused. While observed in different languages, Rizzi (1986) pointed out that object omission is more common in languages like Italian than in English and advocated the pro-drop parameter for this difference. However, the syntactic nature of English object omission does not seem to be explained properly by his parameter. In this paper, it will be proposed that object omission involves movement to the edge of vP, in parallel with p-movement, another defocusing phenomenon. The Phase Theory constrains defocusing. In addition, defocused DPs are optionally assigned null Case which makes them invisible to phonology. Null-Case assignment is parameterized. Finally, the possibility of minimizing the inventory of empty categories will be entertained.
Michael Leo Higgins 教授退職記念号
Languages
eng
Resource Type
departmental bulletin paper
Publishers
山口大学人文学部・教育学部・経済学部・工学部・留学生センター
Date Issued
2010-12-20
File Version
Version of Record
Access Rights
open access
Relations
[ISSN]0288-2396
[NCID]AN00021380
Schools
人文学部