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Syntactic Position and the Interpretation of Temporal Adjectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Luis Silva-Villar  and
Javier Gutiérrez-Rexach
Luis Silva-Villar
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
Javier Gutiérrez-Rexach
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
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Abstract

The analysis of the syntactic and interpretive properties of Spanish temporal adjectives poses an interesting problem for the theory of syntax since [+temporal] interpretation and Noun-Adjective linearizations are not univocal. The minimalist account of the position of temporal adjectives argued for here is based on the hypothesis that DPs contain a TP projection in which the feature [+temp] is checked: the TP within DP hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, all nouns are associated with an optional temporal feature when entering the computational component. When they enter into a syntactic relation with a term carrying a [+temp] value, the temporal feature they are associated with must be checked. Attraction of the adjective can take place overtly or covertly. In the first case, the adjective is in prenominal position checking the [+temp] feature at Spell-Out and, in the second case, it appears postnominally checking the [+temp] feature at the LF interface.

Résumé

Résumé

L’analyse des propriétés syntaxiques et interprétatives des adjectifs temporels de l’espagnol pose un problème intéressant compte tenu que l’interprétation [+temporel] et l’ordre nom-adjectif ne sont pas univocaux. L’analyse minimaliste de la position de l’adjectif temporel proposée dans cet article se base sur l’hypothèse que DP contient une projection TP à l’intérieur de laquelle le trait [+temp] peut être vérifié. D’après cette hypothèse, tous les noms sont associés à un trait optionnel temporel à leur entrée dans la composante computationnelle. Lorsqu’ils entrent dans une relation syntaxique avec un terme ayant une valeur [+temp], le trait temporel auquel ils sont associés doit être vérifié. Le déplacement de l’adjectif peut avoir lieu de façon manifeste, auquel cas celui-ci se retrouve en position pré-nominale vérifiant le trait [+temp] à Spell-Out, ou de façon non manifeste, l’adjectif apparaissant alors en position post-nominale vérifiant le trait [+temp] à I'interface LF.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 43 , Special Issue 01 1: Grammaire et variation , March 1998 , pp. 97 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 1998

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