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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/9755 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Nakamura, Yumiko |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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