Abstract
This paper investigates the syntax of independent pronounsin Halkomelem Salish and argues that thesepronouns are morphosyntactically complex. In particular,the paper shows that independent pronounscontain a syntactically active determiner, and concludesthat they are full DPs with an elliptical NP.Licensing of elliptical NPs is subject to cross-linguisticvariation, and thus not all languages allow fordeterminers to be used pronominally. The analysisof independent pronouns as full DPs is supported bytheir external syntax as well as their bindingproperties. It is shown that independent pronouns behave likeR-expressions in that they are subject toCondition C. On the basis of this observation, it is concluded thatbinding theory must be sensitive to syntacticcategories and, crucially, that regular 'condition B' pronounscannot be analyzed as (intransitive) DPs,contrary to standard assumptions.
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Wiltschko, M. The syntax of pronouns: Evidence from Halkomelem Salish. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 20, 157–195 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014214222614
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014214222614