Externalization: the case of C/case

Externalization: the case of C/case
Halldor Armann Sigurdsson
September 2008

This paper discusses NP-licensing (abstract Case) and morphological case, arguing that there is no direct relationship between these two important phenomena, the syntactic relations (Voice-matching, v-matching, etc.) that underlie morphological case-marking of core arguments being distinct from those that have commonly been analyzed as Case (finite Tense-matching, Person matching). One of the ideas pursued is that defective v (yielding NOM) is derived (under Voice control) from either v* (yielding ACC) or v** (yielding inherent case), and that NOM is no case or null case, inactive until in agreement morphology. The analysis also suggests a link between ergative and accusative systems via Voice. In both accusative and ergative systems, finite Tense/Person-matching licenses overt subjects, while Voice/v-matching licenses N(P) case interpretation in morphology in terms of discrete features like +ACC and +ERG, such features being non-existent in syntax. Linguistic mapping processes are fundamentally non-isomorphic, there thus being no one-to-one mappings from syntax onto morphology or onto PF in general. However, there is no escape from the dilemma that internal language can only be studied through the incomplete reflection of externalized language (Platos cave allegory).

Format:	[ pdf ]
Reference:	lingbuzz/000736 (please use that when you cite this article, unless you want to cite the full url: http://ling.auf.net/lingbuzz/000736)
keywords:	case, externalization, np-licensing, person, voice, morphology, syntax
previous versions:	v2 [August 2008] v1 [August 2008]
Downloaded:	365 times

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