LOCALITY DOMAINS IN THE SPANISH DETERMINER PHRASE

Transcription

1 LOCALITY DOMAINS IN THE SPANISH DETERMINER PHRASE

2 Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory VOLUME 79 Managing Editors Marcel den Dikken, City University of New York Liliane Haegeman, University of Ghent, Belgium Joan Maling, Brandeis University Editorial Board Guglielmo Cinque, University of Venice Carol Georgopoulos, University of Utah Jane Grimshaw, Rutgers University Michael Kenstowicz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Hilda Koopman, University of California, Los Angeles Howard Lasnik, University of Maryland Alec Marantz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology John J. McCarthy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Ian Roberts, University of Cambridge For further volumes:

3 LOCALITY DOMAINS IN THE SPANISH DETERMINER PHRASE by M. EMMA TICIO University of Syracuse, NY, USA 13

4 M. Emma Ticio Dept. of Languages, Lit &Ling, 340 HBC Syracus University Syracuse, NY USA ISBN e-isbn DOI / Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: # Springer ScienceþBusiness Media 2010 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (

5 Preface This book deals with the syntax of nominal expressions from a generative point of view. The book concentrates mainly on empirical data taken from Spanish, although the study also discusses properties shown by other languages, to draw conclusions of theoretical interest. Although the properties of nominal expressions in Romance languages have been extensively studied in the literature, there has not yet been a book that examines theoretically all aspects of the structure of nominal expressions in Spanish. Aspects of Spanish nominal expressions have been profusely studied but with a focus on particular phenomena in the nominal domain. For instance, Spanish data on extraction out of nominal expressions has not been very well represented in the literature. Most authors who discuss Spanish do not relate the Spanish extraction data to the other main phenomena in the Spanish nominal expressions and the basic works on extraction out of Spanish nominal expressions has not been published. The publication of this research monograph meets then two needs: first, to provide an empirical description of the properties of Spanish nominal expressions and to disseminate the descriptive generalizations, preliminary results and problems of previous research among the researchers and second, to give an explanation for the different phenomena discussed in the Spanish literature under a uniform account. The major contribution of the book is the proposal of a single explanation for several phenomena that have not been analyzed under a single basic account previously. Specifically, the book explores how economy notions interact with a number of functional categories, with the length and type of movements allowed and with the existence of domains within nominal expressions. Additionally, some previously unobserved data regarding ellipsis and cliticization in Spanish nominal expressions are discussed. Therefore this monograph can be seen as the reference point for further research in Spanish linguistics and it is my hope that the ideas presented here stimulate further research on these and related topics. This book has grown out of my doctoral dissertation completed at the University of Connecticut in May Some of the ideas presented in this book developed while I was a graduate student at this institution and I would like to express my warmest thanks to all the members in the department, v

6 vi Preface especially to my dissertation committee members, for the stimulating work environment and for their constant help and guidance. As a member of the University of Houston, I have also benefited from the interaction with my colleagues and students there, who have contributed with judgments and suggestions to this book. While working on this material, I have had fruitful discussions and exchanges with many linguists. I do not think I can possibly reproduce the entire list here but I thank all of them for their direct or indirect contribution to this book. Particular thanks are due to two anonymous SNLT reviewers for patiently wading through previous versions of the manuscripts and for their comments. Different parts of the material in this book were presented in presentations at events at the University of Connecticut, University of Houston, University of Arizona, The Ohio State University, University of New Mexico, University of Sonora, University of Minnesota, The Pennsylvania State University and University of Western Ontario. Audiences at these places have always offered very helpful suggestions and stimulating questions, and I thank them for that. Lastly and most importantly, I would like to thank my wonderful family, Aaron, Daniel and Sara, for putting up with me during the writing of this book. This book is dedicated to them. Research on this book was partially possible thanks to a New Faculty Research Grant that the University of Houston awarded me during the summer of New York M. Emma Ticio

7 Contents 1. Introduction Scope of the Book On the Parallelism Between Clauses and Nominal Phrases Nouns and Verbs The Challenges Theoretical Framework Foundations on Minimalism Locality in the Minimalism Framework Overview of the Book Notes On the Structure of Nominal Expressions Introduction Basic Properties of Spanish Nominal Expressions Structural Relations Within Nominal Constructions Structural Hierarchy Within Nominal Expressions Two Types of PPs in Spanish Nominal Expressions The Structure of Nominal Expressions in Spanish Theoretical Assumptions The Analysis Conclusions Appendix: Genitive Pronouns Notes Specificity, Definiteness and the Definite Article in Spanish Nominal Expressions Introduction Fundamentals: Definiteness and Specificity The Distinction Definite vs. Indefinite Specificity in Indefinite Nominal Expressions Specificity in Definite Nominal Expressions Conclusions vii

8 viii Contents 3.3 Extraction, Definiteness and Specificity The Specificity Effect Extraction Out of Specific Nominal Expressions Extraction Out of Nominal Expressions with the Definite Article Extraction Out of Specific Indefinite Nominal Expressions Conclusions A Syntactic Analysis Basic Assumptions Extraction Out of Specific Definite Spanish DPs Explaining the Blocking Effects Out of Specific Indefinite Nominal Expressions On the Spanish Definite Article Conclusions Summary and Further Research Main Claims of the Chapter Further Research Notes Adjective Placement Introduction Description Linear Order The Relation Between Meaning and Linear Position Conclusions Towards an Analysis Analysis Evidence from the Syntactic Behavior of the Different Groups of Adjectives Conclusions Previous and Further Lines of Research Problems for a Uniform Analysis for Spanish Adjectives The Role of Noun Movement in the Analyses of Romance Adjectives Conclusions Summary of the Chapter Notes Nominal Ellipsis Introduction Nominal Ellipsis Description Classifying the Data

9 Contents ix 5.3 Putting Together the Analysis General NP Ellipsis On the Restrictions of the Definite Article in NP Ellipsis Contexts Additional Evidence Conclusions Agreement and Focus in Ellipsis Processes The Relevance of Strong Agreement in Nominal Ellipsis The Relevance of Focus in Nominal Ellipsis Conclusions Summary of the Chapter Notes Conclusions and Further Research Introduction Major Findings of the Book Further Research References Index