In this dissertation, I study the distribution of number in Azeri within the Exo-
Skeletal model of Borer (2005a). I adopt the Exo-Skeletal model's assumption that
number marking is a syntactic rather than a lexical process.
Following Borer (2005a), I assume that, in order to be counted, nouns need to
be individuated by means of a functional category Div. In Borer's model, plural
markers and classifiers are argued to be generated in DivP. However, unlike Borer,
I propose that the plural marker in Azeri is not an individuator. Instead, it solely
marks plurality. Under my proposal, individuation in Azeri is morphologically null.
Moreover, I argue that classifiers do not belong to the category of individuators
either and their function is to unitize the individuated object. Therefore, I consider
classifiers in Azeri to be generated on a cluster head where they contribute to a
group formation process. The generation of the plural marker and the classifier on
heads other than division derives the conclusion that the individuation in Azeri is
morphologically null.
Furthermore, I investigate the interpretation of number in the verbal domain,
i.e. in TP, in the presence of the viewpoint aspect in both telic and atelic contexts.
I argue that the singular interpretation of the Azeri bare noun is linked to the
projection of AspQ, where the specific interpretation of the bare noun arises under
the effect of the perfective aspect. The presence of AspQ yields a telic interpretation
of the event structure, and the DP in the specifier of AspQ is the subject of
quantity (Borer, 2005a). Moreover, according to Borer, number ambiguous nouns
are generated in atelic structures where AspQ is absent. In this case, the DP does
not have to be the subject of quantity and the availability of quantity on the DP
remains optional. Nevertheless, (non-)specific interpretation of the noun in telic
and atelic contexts in Azeri, I argue to be due to the impact of the viewpoint
aspect.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/38044 |
| Date | 29 August 2018 |
| Creators | Zareikar, Gita |
| Contributors | Mathieu, Éric |
| Publisher | Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
Page generated in 0.0021 seconds