Syntax in the Absence of Determiner Phrase Miloje Despić, Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 2011 ...

382 Pages·2011·1.77 MB·English

by  Miloje Despic

Syntax in the Absence of Determiner Phrase

Miloje Despić, Ph.D.
University of Connecticut, 2011

This dissertation investigates the structure of the noun phrase in Serbo-Croatian
(SC) and cross-linguistically and argues that DP is not universal.
Chapters 2 and 3 examine the relationship between the Binding Theory and
DP/NP. Chapter 2 explores Conditions B and C and argues that the most principled way
of accounting for a number of binding contrasts between English and SC is to assume
that the latter lacks DP. I propose a model which employs a predicate-based version of
Condition B, Condition C as defined in Lasnik (1989), and a competitive mechanism
which regulates the distribution of reflexives, pronouns, and R-expressions.
Chapter 3 discusses binding of reflexives. Two central proposals are: (i) phases
are crucially involved in determining the binding domain for anaphors; (ii) in addition to
CPs and vPs, DPs (but not NPs) qualify as phases. The analysis is situated within a
general approach to phases, in which CPs and DPs do not always count as phases. I show
that the proposed system deduces the generalization that reflexive possessives are
available only in languages which lack definiteness marking, or which encode it
postnominally, while they are systematically absent in languages with prenominal
(article-like) definiteness marking. I extend this approach to the clausal domain, arguing
that the lack of TP is the crucial reason why certain languages have subject anaphors.
Miloje Despić - University of Connecticut, 2011

Chapter 4 addresses an argument for DP in SC based on an asymmetry in the
distribution of nouns and pronouns in constructions involving an intensifying adjective. I
argue that the facts in question not only do not challenge, but in fact support the lack of
DP in SC. I also show that in many cases overtly strong pronouns in focus positions are
in fact “camouflaged” clitics.
Chapter 5 proposes an analysis of SC long-form/definite adjectives which does
not require DP. Central to the analysis is the observation that the definite adjectival
declension diachronically consisted of an indefinite adjective and an anaphoric pronoun
declining in parallel. I also explain why Bulgarian and Macedonian, the only Slavic
languages with definite articles, are also the only Slavic languages lacking long-form
adjectives.
Syntax in the Absence of Determiner Phrase

Miloje Despić

B.A., University of Belgrade, 2002
M.A., Ankara University, 2005

A Dissertation
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
at the
University of Connecticut
2011
Copyright by
Miloje Despić

2011

∗
Acknowledgments

I have greatly enjoyed writing this dissertation, which owes the most immediate debt to
the members of my committee: Željko Bošković, Jonathan Bobaljik and Susi
Wurmbrand. It has been a privilege to work with this group of people. Together they
have formed a truly exceptional committee, and I thank them for their generous support,
friendly encouragement, and meticulous criticism.
My advisor Željko Bošković devoted an impressive amount of thought to my
research, which is evident on every page of this thesis. He has spent countless hours of
discussion with me, providing me with constant written feedback. I am deeply indebted
to him for all the time and energy he spent teaching and working with me. Without his
work, none of this thesis would exist. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge my intellectual
debt to Jonathan Bobaljik, whose insightful advice and comments have influenced every
aspect of this work. From him I have learned what it actually means to be a linguist, and I
will continue learning from his example in the years to follow. Susi Wurmbrand, my first
syntax teacher at Uconn, was always willing to devote a great deal of time and attention
to the topics I was interested in. Her incisive suggestions and attention to detail have
helped me enormously in clarifying my thoughts and sharpening my argumentation.
I also wish to offer my thanks to the other faculty members of the Uconn
linguistics department. Yael Sharvit provided a number of helpful comments and a great
deal of assistance along the way. Her friendship and willingness to exchange ideas were
especially important to me during my education at Uconn. Andrea Calabrese directed and

∗
The work presented in this dissertation was partially supported by a grant from the National Science
Foundation (NSF grant 0920888, PI Bošković, Co-PI Gajewski).
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encouraged the phonology part of the work I did for my second generals paper. I feel
very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him and I would like to express
my gratitude to him for his support and interest in my work. Jon Gajewski read parts of
the thesis and was always ready to discuss any topic with me. The following faculty
members have also been of great help to me in the last five years; I thank them for their
inspiration and guidance: Harry van der Hulst, Diane C. Lillo-Martin, William Snyder
and Mona Anderson.
The research for this thesis has benefited greatly from discussions with Mamoru
Saito, Daiko Takahashi and Jairo Nunes, who were always willing to patiently listen to
my often half-formed ideas. Special thanks are due to David Michaels for his ever-
present enthusiasm which has been an inspiring driving force behind my work in Storrs.
A number of people in addition to those mentioned above have directly
contributed to different parts of this thesis, in the form of discussions, feedback or
criticism… Among them are Howard Lasnik, John Bailyn, Angelika Kratzer, David
Embick, Danny Fox, Norvin Richards, Norbert Hornstein, Satoshi Tomioka, Rolf Noyer,
Heidi Harley, David Pesetsky, Adam Albright, Rafaela Zanuttini, Steven Franks, Sandra
Stjepanović, Wayles Browne, Ljiljana Progovac, Monika Bašić, Boban Arsenijević,
Andrew Nevins, Draga Zec, Molly Diesing. I thank them all, especially those who I have
unfortunately forgotten to mention.
Masahiko Takahashi has been my closest colleague during the writing of the
dissertation and has hung on with me to the bitter end. He has heard most of my
proposals countless number of times and his contribution to this dissertation is enormous.
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He has also been one of the best foreign language teachers I have ever had. Thank you
my sensei!
I would also like to thank the other graduate students in the department with
whom I overlapped. They provided the warm environment which made the past five
years in Storrs a pleasant experience; they have in numerous ways offered assistance and
made life possible: I-Ta Hsieh, Koichi Ohtaki, Zhanna Glushan, Elena Koulidobrova,
Nilufer Şener, Serkan Şener, Simona Herdan, Duk-Ho An, Miguel Rodríguez
Mondoñedo, Masahiko Aihara, Tsuyoshi Sawada, Oksana Tarasenkova, Natasha
Rakhlin, Takuro Tanaka, Cynthia L. Z. DeRoma, Nina Radkevich, Natalia Fitzgibbons,
Ana Bastos, Jeffrey Merrill-Bernath, Sandy Wood, Carlos Buesa García, Hsu-Te Cheng,
Jean Crawford, Kiki Vassilaki, Benjamin Girard-Bond, Irina Monich, Alexandre L.
Vaxman, Jelena Runić, Julio Villa-García, Jungmin Kang, Corina Goodwin, Ting Xu,
Lyn Shan Tieu, José Riqueros Morante, Neda Todorović, Beata Moskal, Yoshiyuki
Shibata, Mary Goodrich, Yu-Ruei Liou, Aida Talić, Peter Smith, Gísli Harðarson, Safet
Beriša, Soyoung Eom, Kate Chommanad, Winnie Cheung.
The department’s Program Assistant Catalina Ritton has been there for us
whenever we have had any questions or issues. Thank you for your endless patience.
Special thanks go to Alen Bešić, Igor Markićević, Helena Despić and Đorđe
Despić for their invaluable help in collecting judgments.
I also want to thank my friends and colleagues outside of the Uconn linguistics
community with whom I have spent many memorable moments over the years: Milica
Ivović, Sanela and Borko Tanasijević, Dragana Vučetić, Katarina Urošević, Uzay Sezen,
Pritty Patel-Grosz, Patrick Grosz, Julia Maričić, Shaznene Hussain, Joshua King, Julie
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Anderson, Silvia Flotzinger, Robert Riechardt, Marija Plavšić, Jelena Medved, Krzysztof
Migdalski, Toshiko Oda, Radek Šimík, Martina Martinović, Mira Bekar, James Lavine,
Asya Perelstvaig, John Bailyn, Ivana Mitrović, Chris LaTerza, Nikola Predolac, Esra
Kesici, Effi Georgala, Andrei Antonenko, Boris Harizanov, Luka Crnić, Beth Rogers,
Bret Shook, Hakyung Jung, Lourdes Estrada, Martina Gračanin Yüksek, Roumyana
Pancheva, Sabina Matyiku, Simona Herdan, Zoran Pavlović, Mark Lindsay, Lanko Franc
Marušič, Monika Bašić, Barbara Maria Tomaszewicz, Bridget Samuels, Ksenia Zanon,
Christine Buckley, Eda Dedebaş.
Special kudos to my buddies Elijah Gaioni and Ila Sivarajah for making the
summer of 2010 so great!
My wonderful Serbian friends have played perhaps the most significant role in
keeping me sane throughout the years: Nevena and Vrsan Leštarić, Igor Markićević,
Nemanja Bobić, Darko Selaković. Thank you for everything.
For many stimulating discussions and exchange of ideas and knowledge during
my fellowship year at the Uconn Humanities Institute I want to thank Sharron Harris,
Evelyn M. Simien, Emma Gilligan, Kenneth Gouwens, Anne Lambright, Margo Lani
Machida, Joanne Pope Melish, Gustavo Nanclares, Marcus Rossberg, Alexia Smith, Asha
Leena Bhandary, Michael Neagle.
I never would have become a linguist if it weren’t for the fabulous faculty at the
Ankara University Linguistics Department and their contagious love for language and
linguistics. I am especially grateful to Nadir Engin Uzun and Selçuk İşsever for their
support, attention and encouragement.
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My big brother Đorđe Despić has been a true guiding figure in my life and has
helped me with many of my hardest life’s decisions. I am sure that I wouldn’t be where I
am without his constant support. Živ bio i hvala ti!
I owe my deepest debt of love and thanks to my wife Sachiko Komuro, who had
to put up with the most through the writing of this dissertation. During many periods of
difficulty, Sachiko has given me love, kindness and understanding, without which I can
safely say I never would have completed this course of study.
Finally, I owe everything to my parents Milena and Manojlo Despić, who have
provided nothing but unquestioning support and encouragement throughout this long
journey. I thank them for their love and many years of sacrifices on my behalf. I dedicate
this thesis to them. Hvala vam od srca na svemu!

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