Back to Search
Start Over
Possessive and adjunct multiple nominative constructions in Japanese.
- Source :
-
Lingua . Oct2005, Vol. 115 Issue 10, p1329-1363. 35p. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- This paper focuses on two types of multiple nominative constructions in Japanese. In addition to the subject, the nominative particle ga can mark a possessor of the subject or an adjunct. A prevalent view in the literature is that all ga-phrases are nominative NPs or DPs and are licensed in multiple specifier or adjoined positions in one particular projection (Fukui, 1986; Heycock, 1993b; Hiraiwa, 2001; Ura, 1996; among others). However, this licensing mechanism alone cannot account for some striking properties of the two constructions. I argue that a possessive ga-phrase is a nominative NP, while ga attached to an adjunct is interpreted as a focus marker. The particle ga functions as a case marker whenever it marks an NP bearing a ϴ-role. However, an interpretational rule also treats it as a focus marker when the constituent to which it is attached appears as the first ga-phrase in a multiple nominative construction. These assumptions account for a range of observations, some of which are new. They also explain two particular properties that are difficult to capture in the standard analysis: (i) the difference in the number of ga-phrases permitted in the two constructions; and (ii) the fixed order of ga-phrases in both constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *LINGUISTICS
*LANGUAGE & languages
*COMMUNICATION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00243841
- Volume :
- 115
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Lingua
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17670230
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2004.06.001