Premium
Remarks on Ergativity and Phase Theory
Author(s) -
Karimi Yadgar
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
studia linguistica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.187
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1467-9582
pISSN - 0039-3193
DOI - 10.1111/stul.12042
Subject(s) - transitive relation , aka , ergative case , phase (matter) , complement (music) , linguistics , computer science , head (geology) , mathematics , theoretical physics , philosophy , physics , combinatorics , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , complementation , chemistry , geomorphology , library science , gene , phenotype , geology
This paper discusses one empirical domain where a transitive vP , though being a full propositional construction, does not form a phase. Drawing data from the past transitive structures, aka ergative constructions, in Kurdish, I will demonstrate that the interface‐oriented arguments underlying the determination of the first phase (v*P vs. vP ) fall short of accounting for the emergent case/agreement pattern in these structures. Instead, à la Chomsky (2008), a view will be endorsed of the first phase in which a vP constitutes a strong phase only if its head is associated with a full complement of φ‐features, regardless of whether an external θ‐role is projected in [spec, vP ]. Thus construed, the identification of a strong phase need not be procrastinated until the whole vP is formed, rather the status of a phase will be decided once a φ‐complete/‐defective v° enters into the derivation.