The feature structure of pronouns: a probe into multidimensional paradigms

© Oxford University Press 2018. All rights reserved. This paper examines multidimensional paradigms, i.e. paradigms involving more than one feature dimension. I examine the concrete case of pronominal paradigms, which involve (at least) the dimensions of person and number. The problem that arises in such paradigms is that syncretisms may be observed in each dimension, i.e. they may occur both vertically (cross-person) and horizontally (cross-number). While classical nanosyntax embodies a theory of syncretism that can account for one dimension, it requires an extension to account for syncretisms in the other dimension(s). I discuss two such extensions, one making use of pointers, and another in terms of a revision of the Superset Principle. I show that both approaches make subtly different empirical predictions.

ISBN:9780190876753

Jaar van publicatie:2018

Toegankelijkheid:Closed