Adopting the theoretical framework of the minimalist program, this study of syntactic limitations on complement configuration investigates the link between thematic external arguments and case. Using evidence from pronominal, psychological experiencer, and inalienable constructions, it argues that both accusative and dative are structural cases in French and that this duality is reflected in a parallel limit on argument projection. Larson’s single complement hypothesis, which allows a maximum of two internal arguments, provides the theoretical justification for this proposal. The testing ground for the binary hypothesis is a group of nonthematic subject constructions involving undative as well as unaccusative verbs, linking, according to Burzio’s generalization, case suspension and lack of an internal argument. The investigation of these constructions and those involving partitive case provides not only a theoretically significant contribution to our understanding of grammar, but also a motivated explanation for a number of empirical problems in French.
Les mer
Part of the "Current Issues in Linguistic Theory" series, this text looks at case suspension and binary complement structure in French. It covers minimalist syntactic representation, argument structure, unaccusative and case defective verbs, and binary case and syntactic representation.
Les mer
1. Minimalist syntactic representation; 2. Case and argument structure; 3. Unaccusative verbs and affected datives; 4. Case defective psych verbs; 5. Case suspending pronominals; 6. Inalienable undatives; 7. Case suspension and complement structure; 8. Appendix: grammaticality survey; 9. References; 10. Index of authors; 11. Index of subjects
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9789027236364
Publisert
1996-02-29
Utgiver
John Benjamins Publishing Co
Vekt
410 gr
Høyde
245 mm
Bredde
164 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
212
Forfatter