Basic word order in Brazilian Portuguese: a hybrid extended projection principle (EPP)
Michelle Sheehan
June 2018 

This paper proposes a novel analysis of word order in Brazilian Portuguese (BP), based on a hybrid model of EPP satisfaction. It is proposed that the subject requirement or EPP is a [uD] feature on T which can be satisfied either by DP movement or by movement of an inflected verb bearing a [D] feature in BP. This, it is claimed, offers an explanatory account of basic word order patterns in BP. External argument DPs, merged above V, are closer to T than V, meaning that they must raise to satisfy the EPP, predicting SV(O) order with transitive and unergative predicates, including transitive psych-predicates. Internal arguments are merged below V, however, and so with unaccusatives, it is movement of the verb bearing a [uD] feature which satisfies the EPP, giving rise to VS order. With copular verbs which take small clause complements, a similar affect holds, as the copular verb can satisfy the EPP. Verb movement can also satisfy the EPP in impersonal contexts, hence the fact that BP lacks overt expletives.

Format:	[ pdf ]
Reference:	lingbuzz/004063 (please use that when you cite this article)
Published in:	Estudos linguÍsticos e literários 58, 104-129.
keywords:	epp, subject requirement, verb movement, basic word order, morphology, syntax
Downloaded:	392 times

 

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