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Case, Phases, and Nominative/Accusative Conversion in Japanese

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Abstract

One of the central issues in the current Minimalist Program is the exact definition of phases. This article argues for a specific interpretation of phases, based on an account of a scope puzzle in the Nominative/Accusative conversion in Japanese. I show that the puzzle is best accounted for by postulating QR, which is bound by domains of Case-valuation. Based on an observation that scope of QR is phase-bound, I conclude that phases are determined via Case-valuation. This suggests that phases are not determined intrinsically, but contextually. The analysis has an implication for the landing site of short scrambling.

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  1. Department of Linguistics, University of Connecticut, Unit 1145 337 Mansfield Road, ST, Storrs, CT, 06269-1145, USA

    Masahiko Takahashi

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Takahashi, M. Case, Phases, and Nominative/Accusative Conversion in Japanese. J East Asian Linguist 19, 319–355 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10831-010-9063-y

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