Arguments and Case: Explaining Burzio's GeneralizationEric J. Reuland The ideas presented by the contributions in this volume originated in a workshop on Burzio's generalization. Burzio's Generalization (BG) states that a verb which does not assign an external theta-role to its subject does not assign structural accusative Case to an object and conversely. It connects cross-linguistic similarities between e.g. passives, raising verbs, and unaccusatives. However, it does so by linking very different properties of a predicate. This raises fundamental questions about its theoretical status. The contributions in this volume explore BG's theoretical basis. A consensus emerges that BG is, in fact, an epiphenomenon, due to the interaction of different principles of grammar. Moreover, the contributions show a striking convergence as to how BG is ultimately derived. The results obtained make a significant contribution to the further development of theories of Case and thematic relations. |
Contents
Case and Licensing | 11 |
Licensing of Structural Case Plus Economy | 31 |
The Nature of Verbs and Burzios Generalization | 57 |
Oblique Subjects and Burzios Generalization | 79 |
Burzios Generalization and its Image in the Mirror | 103 |
Perfectivity and Burzios | 131 |
Anatomy of a Generalization | 195 |
| 241 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham ACTIVE Passive constructions agreement AgrO AgrS appears argued argument structure Aspect auxiliary Balochi Bobaljik Burzio's Case-uniformity Case-uniqueness categorial licensing Chomsky clitic complement configuration constraint construction types dative default dependent Case assignment derived direct object discussion Dordrecht dwaaraa Dyirbal English ergative languages ergative systems ergative verbs expletive constructions Extended Projection Principle external argument fact functional licensing Georgian German ghar GR-consistency grammar Haider Hindi Hoekstra hypothesis Icelandic incorporation inflection internal intransitive intransitive verb Laka lexical Linguistic Inquiry Mahajan Marantz Mohan morphological movement MPLT NOM-ACC Nominative noun null subject languages option pattern perfect participle perfective aspect predicate preposition principle pronominal properties quirky raam relation relevant result Salma semantic sentences small clause specific split ergativity structural accusative subject position syntactic syntax Tense thematic theory transitive trigger typological unaccusative unaccusative verbs unergative verb verbal violation VP-internal yielding