LINB13H3 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Null-Subject Language, Minimalist Program, Germanic Languages
11 Aug 2015
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Document Summary
Pro-drop and theories of pro in the minimalist program part 1: Consistent null subject languages and the pronominal-agr hypothesis". The article discusses null subject languages and the categories they fall into depending on the distribution of the subject drop. The author discusses 4 types of nsl; consistent nsl, discourse pro-drop, partial nsl and semi - pro drop. Each category is based on the parameters set by the language on when a subject drop can and cannot occur. Consistent or rich agreement nsl have the following properties: they must exhibit phonetic ns, have free inversion (vs to sv inversions) and have no "that-trace". Consistent null subject language can make any subject a null subject. Null subjects in partial bull subject languages are restricted to 1st and 2nd person. Semi pro-drop only allow expletives to be null subjects and discourse pro-drop languages allow null subjects without any agreement as well as allowing non referential null subject (not referring to one particular thing).
