External merge in spec,CP

Complementizers projecting an argument

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4238175
AutoresIrina Burukina (0000-0001-8537-8931, Eötvös Loránd University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2023
Volumen26
Número1
Páginas85-105
Fecha de publicación2023-03-01
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSyntax (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1368-0005 • E-ISSN: 1467-9612
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/synt.12246
OpenAlexW4313332013
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas17

The standard assumption that spec,CP is always an A′ position has been questioned for several languages where embedded C heads are involved in agreement and case assignment; however, the idea that no XP can be introduced in spec,CP by external merge has remained unchallenged. The article presents novel data from control phenomena in Mari (Uralic; nominative, SOV) and argues that, in this language, a particular type of C head is capable of thematically licensing an overt argument externally merged in spec,CP: the complementizer manən used in infinitival complement clauses projects a dative goal of communication. This behavior of manən follows from its dual nature: it is a semigrammaticalized verb 'say' that retains some lexical characteristics. I further suggest that the dative goal can be considered an overt realization of the addressee discourse variable, in line with the recent work on the presence of speaker, addressee, and logophoric center in syntax

Argument (complex analysis · Complementizer · Dative case · Linguistics · Merge (version control · Programming language · Spec · Syntax · Verb · Computer Science · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Linguistics and language evolution · Mathematics · Philosophy · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation