ROA: | 470 |
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Title: | Reanalyzing the definiteness effect: evidence from Danish |
Authors: | Line Hove Mikkelsen |
Comment: | |
Length: | 39 |
Abstract: | This paper presents a novel analysis of definiteness effects in expletive and related constructions. Where previous analyses posit a restriction on what can appear in the pivot position, the present analysis treats the definiteness effect as an epiphenomenon arising from the interaction of constraints governing the subject position, in particular the cross-linguistic preference for definite over indefinite subjects. The definiteness effect reflects the fact that definite DPs are forced to move to subject position where possible, whereas indefinite ones are not. When a definite DP is prevented from moving to subject position for independent reasons (reating to Case assignment) it may surface in pivot position. This shows that the definiteness effect is not absolute, but can be overridden when other considerations outweigh the preference for a definite subject. Expletive insertion itself is seen as a way of resolving the conflict between avoiding an indefinite DP in subject position and satisfying the requirement that something must occupy that position. |
Type: | Paper/tech report |
Area/Keywords: | Syntax |
Article: | Version 1 |