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(De)-Focussing and Object Raising in Romanian

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Gabriela Alboiu
Gabriela Alboiu*
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba and University of Bucharest
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Abstract

This article argues that VOS structures in Romanian are derived from a basic VSO word order and, consequently, involve object raising out of VP, across the subject left in situ. Binding interactions and the availability of raising quantified NPs clause-medially provide syntactic support for an A-movement analysis of the raised objects. In contrast to other languages that allow (or require) movement of objects to argumental positions, it is argued that in Romanian VOS structures the object does not move for the purposes of Case checking nor does object raising entail a strong, definite interpretation of the moved NP. Rather, object raising is an instance of de-focussing, made possible by a strong nominal feature on the abstract verb v.

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article propose que les structures VOS en roumain sont dérivées à partir d’un ordre de base VSO. En conséquence, c’est l’objet qui se déplace à l’extérieur du VP, par-dessus le sujet qui demeure dans sa position de base. Les interactions de phénomènes de liage et la possibilité de déplacer des objets quantifiés montrent que, du point de vue syntaxique, le déplacement des objets est un déplacement argumental. Contrairement aux autres langues qui permettent (ou exigent) le déplacement des objets dans des positions argumentales, le déplacement des objets en roumain n’est pas requis pour vérifier le Cas et n’entraîne pas une interprétation spécifique ou définie des syntagmes nominaux déplacés. Les objets déplacés sont plutôt défocalisés, leur déplacement étant la conséquence d’un trait nominal fort du verbe abstrait v.

Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 1 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 1999

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