'One', noun structure, and modification
The present thesis aims to use novel observations as to the behaviour of anaphoric 'one' when under modification in order to explore more acutely the structure of the nominal phrase. There has been decades of disagreement as to the syntactic nature of anaphoric 'one'. This work highlights novel observations about anaphoric 'one' and offers structural analyses for them. Anaphoric 'one' behaves in a markedly distinct way when modified by a prenominal modifier versus when it is modified by a postnominal modifier. Specifically the indefinite article, numerals, and certain quantifiers are able to be introduced into the structure of the noun phrase only when anaphoric 'one' is modified prenominally. In such cases that is modified postnominally the introduction of such material is not possible. Rather than appealing to rich featural specifications on syntactic objects by way of explanation this thesis offers an account based upon the structure of the nominal. An obligatory movement operation in the nominal projection is proposed, the result of which produces a structural configuration which limits extraction from the moved constituent. It is the two of these factors working together that produces the pattern of behaviour
Stanton, Tom
Language and Linguistics ; anaphoric one ; nominal phrase
'One', noun structure, and modification. The present thesis aims to use novel observations as to the behaviour of anaphoric 'one' when under modification in order to explore more acutely the structure of the nominal phrase. There has been decades of disagreement as to the syntactic nature of anaphoric 'one'. This work highlights novel observations about anaphoric 'one' and offers structural analyses for them. Anaphoric 'one' behaves in a markedly distinct way when modified by a prenominal modifier versus when it is modified by a postnominal modifier. Specifically the indefinite article, numerals, and certain quantifiers are able to be introduced into the structure of the noun phrase only when anaphoric 'one' is modified prenominally. In such cases that is modified postnominally the introduction of such material is not possible. Rather than appealing to rich featural specifications on syntactic objects by way of explanation this thesis offers an account based upon the structure of the nominal. An obligatory movement operation in the nominal projection is proposed, the result of which produces a structural configuration which limits extraction from the moved constituent. It is the two of these factors working together that produces the pattern of behaviour
noun structure modification present_aim use novel observation behaviour anaphoric modification order_explore structure nominal phrase decade disagreement syntactic nature anaphoric work highlight novel observation anaphoric offer structural_analysis them anaphoric markedly distinct_way modify modifier versus modify modifier specifically indefinite article numeral certain quantifier able introduced structure noun_phrase anaphoric modify case modify introduction material possible rather appeal rich specification syntactic object way explanation_offer account base_upon structure nominal obligatory movement operation nominal projection propose produce structural configuration limit extraction move constituent factor work together produce pattern_behaviour