Features, Categories and the Syntax of A-Positions Cross-Linguistic Variation in the Germanic Languages

Features, Categories, and the Syntax of A-Positions investigates various aspects of the distribution of nominal arguments, and in particular the cross-linguistic variation that can be found among the Germanic languages in this domain of the syntax. The empirical topics that are discussed include var...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Haeberli, E.
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2002, 2002
Edition:1st ed. 2002
Series:Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: Springer Book Archives -2004 - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:Features, Categories, and the Syntax of A-Positions investigates various aspects of the distribution of nominal arguments, and in particular the cross-linguistic variation that can be found among the Germanic languages in this domain of the syntax. The empirical topics that are discussed include variable vs. fixed argument order, the distribution of subjects with respect to adjuncts, expletive constructions, and oblique subjecthood. These and many other phenomena are analyzed within a theoretical framework which is based on the Minimalist Program. The book argues that the traditional theoretical devices accounting for the distribution of arguments in generative syntax (abstract Case, the Extended Projection Principle) should be eliminated from the grammar and that their apparent effects can be derived from the feature specifications of syntactic categories. Furthermore, it is shown that several aspects of the cross-linguistic variation found in the syntax of arguments can be related to variation in the domain of inflectional morphology
Physical Description:X, 381 p online resource
ISBN:9789401006040