Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [224]-231).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the phenomenon of multiple subjects in Korean. In SOV languages like Korean and Japanese, where double subjects (S + S + V), occur, the second subjects has a subject marker in the surface form, but functions as the object of that structure. This relationship is termed as ergativity: the hypothesis of this study is that ergativity accounts for double subject constructions. When the hypothesis is applied to double subjects, almost all of them are identified as ergative structures.Another typical characteristic of the Korean language is that when topicalization is applied to a possessive structure in the subject position, it produces two successive NPs. Subjectivalization can further be applied to both NPs resulting in two subjects. The same phenomenon occurs when it applied to a structure which has a series of NPs or Locatives. In a few rare cases, these double subjects precede the ergative structure which already has other double subjects. Then the structure might have as many as four subjects in the surface structure.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Connecticut, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [324]-338).

This thesis shows the different features of Korean reflexives compared to Japanese reflexives. In Chapter 1, the differences of Japanese and Korean reflexives are discussed morphologically and syntactically. The general referential relationship of Japanese and Korean reflexives is discussed. In Chapter 2, empathy expressions of the Japanese reflexive zibun and Korean reflexive caki is discussed. In Chapter 3, the semantic interpretation of the plural form of Japanese and Korean reflexive, zibun-tati and caki-tul, is discussed. In Chapter 4, a brief conclusion is presented. Further work on Korean reflexives is necessary to account for Korean anaphora.

This thesis provides an analysis of Possessor Raising (PR) in a minimalist framework. I examine four languages that exhibit PR, namely Japanese, Korean, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. I propose that cross-linguistic variation of PR in these languages is captured by the single notion of Multiple Feature-Checking (MFC). In addition to cross-linguistic variation of surface syntax of PR, this thesis also examines a universal feature of PR, namely the relational noun restriction. PR raises an interesting problem with the mapping relation between an argument DP and its grammatical function (GF). A DP is normally associated with a unique GF (i.e., a one-to-one mapping relation), but in some cases such as passive, a DP may be associated with more than one GF, being both an underlying object and a surface subject (i.e., a one-to-many). PR also poses another type of mapping relation, namely a many-to-one relation; under PR, a possessor DP may also bear the GF of its host. In order to capture such a many-to-one relation between a DP and its GF in PR, I propose that this is an example of MFC, which is defined as follows: (i) MFC is possible only if a Formal Feature (FF) of a head (T and v) can escape deletion. (ii) MFC applies to both strong and weak FFs. In contrast to the original formulation of MFC (cf. Chomsky 1995b), which always involves overt movement of DPs and derives multiple specifiers, I argue that MFC also takes place at LF, which involves covert movement of FFs and derives multiple adjuncts of feature bundles onto a head. Given the evidence against overt movement of the subject and object in Japanese and Korean, I argue that PR in these languages is best analyzed in terms of covert MFC. I also provide an overt MFC analysis for Kinyarwanda and Swahili PR. Lastly, I discuss the relational noun restriction on PR, which holds of all PR languages. I propose that this restriction is reducible to the structural position of the possessor of a relational noun, namely its position as complement to the noun.

This study presents a pragmatic approach to the analysis of definiteness. The expression of definiteness in Korean is analyzed as controlled by the pragmatic motivation to differentiate nouns with respect to their topical relevance and importance.The primary claim of this study is that grammar utilizes formal marking systems not only for making semantic contrasts but also for producing pragmatic distinctions. As an illustration of this claim, the marking vs. lack of marking that determine pragmatic status in Korean is examined, and it is argued that the lack of marking indicates the relative lack of special significance of a given referent as a specific individual, while overt marking indicates the relatively higher significance of an intended referent as a specific individual.Definiteness is shown to be non-distinctive and non-categorical in nature, with five expressions of definiteness coding six degrees of definiteness in a definiteness continuum. This is illustrated in the following diagram:Definiteness ContinuumBare NP ---- com ---- etten ---- han ---- ku ---- Bare NPleastmostThe bare NP to the left comprises nonunique common nouns and the one to the right unique common nouns and proper nouns. In each case, the bare form is viewed as representing the referent in its most general use.It is also shown that definiteness and indefiniteness can coincide in the sense that semantically indefinite NPs can be marked formally as definite in certain contexts. This is explained motivated by the pragmatic need for upgrading the degree of definiteness in order to present it as a more prominent or salient entity. With cases in which both semantically definite referents and semantically indefinite referents are formally presented in the same bare NP form as crucial evidence, it is suggested that the realization and expression of definiteness is motivated only when pragmatic significance requires such a distinction. The study concludes that marking and lack of marking of definiteness in Korean does in fact signal the relative pragmatic importance of the referent in the development of the discourse. / Department of English

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 251-256). / Microfiche. / xvii, 256 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm