Morphologically-marked Transitivity Alternations in Makkan Arabic: Morphology as a Reflex of Argument Structure

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Date
2019
Authors
Azhari, Hanadi
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Abstract
This dissertation explores the relation between morphology and the suppression of the external argument in transitivity alternations in Makkan Arabic (MA). It investigates three morphologically-marked intransitive constructions that have transitive alternants. The first construction ʔan-v encodes passive, anticausative, and psych structures all of which are unaccusative structures that lack syntactically-merged external arguments. The distinction between different ʔan- structures is based on the pattern of compatibility of these structures with by itself, from-phrases, instrumental PPs, and Agent-oriented adjuncts. The second construction ʔat-v encodes reflexive and reciprocal structures, both of which are shown to be unergative structures with syntactically-merged external arguments. The third construction discussed in the dissertation is the unaccusative participles. On a par with ʔan- constructions, unaccusative participles involve three subclasses: passive participles, decausative participles and psych participles. In the thesis I argue that ʔat- constructions are structures in which the internal argument is not introduced in its canonical position as a complement of the root; rather it bundles with the external argument to be introduced into one and the same position [Spec, vP]. In contrast, ʔan- structures and unaccusative participles lack syntactically-merged external arguments. My account for morphologically-marked agentless structures is couched within the framework of the theory of Distributed Morphology (DM) in combination with the Minimalist approach to formal syntax. I assume different root types and different flavors of the functional head v. Building on Reinhart (2000) and Haiden’s (2005) Feature Theory of theta structure, I develop a theory of argument structure in which both root type and the functional head v take part in determining the argument structure for a given predicate, an approach that mediates the projectionist and constructionist approaches to argument structure. I attribute the absence of external arguments in ʔan-structures and unaccusative participles to a voice feature [±active] on the verbal functional head v and the participle functional head ptcpl. A functional head [+active] projects a specifier in which an external argument is licensed/introduced and hence derives transitive structures. In contrast, a functional head [-active] does not project a specifier and thus derives unaccusative structures. ʔan- spells out v[-active] while unaccusative participles spell out ptcpl[-active]. Given this, I conclude that morphologically-marked transitive/unaccusative alternations boil down to a voice feature [±active].
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Syntax, Agent-less structures, Distributed Morphology, Dependent case, Argument structure, Participles
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