The syntax of Japanese nominal projections and some cross-linguistic implications
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the syntax of Japanese noun phrases and their interpretations from the cross-linguistic point of view. It has been argued that argument noun phrases contain functional heads such as D, Num(ber), and Q(uantifier) as well as a lexical projection, NP (Abney 1987; Ritter 1991, 1992, Giusti 1991, etc.) across languages. This thesis shows that argument noun phrases in Japanese can also contain heads corresponding to D, Num and Q, and that the variety of their interpretations can be explained in terms of the positions of those heads and their semantic interaction with each other. Chapter 1 outlines the theoretical background of the syntax of noun phrases and provides a review of the literature concerning Japanese noun phrases. Chapter 2 focuses on the distribution of numeral classifiers (NC) and quantifiers (Q) that can appear within noun phrases in Japanese. I propose that NC and Q can head projections, NCP and QP, and can appear either DP-internally or -externally. Chapter 3 focuses on NCs and Qs with a partitive interpretation. I argue that a partitive interpretation is obtained as the head NC or Q assigns a theta-role to its complement DP within partitive constructions.
Oga, Kyoko
The syntax of Japanese nominal projections and some cross-linguistic implications. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the syntax of Japanese noun phrases and their interpretations from the cross-linguistic point of view. It has been argued that argument noun phrases contain functional heads such as D, Num(ber), and Q(uantifier) as well as a lexical projection, NP (Abney 1987; Ritter 1991, 1992, Giusti 1991, etc.) across languages. This thesis shows that argument noun phrases in Japanese can also contain heads corresponding to D, Num and Q, and that the variety of their interpretations can be explained in terms of the positions of those heads and their semantic interaction with each other. Chapter 1 outlines the theoretical background of the syntax of noun phrases and provides a review of the literature concerning Japanese noun phrases. Chapter 2 focuses on the distribution of numeral classifiers (NC) and quantifiers (Q) that can appear within noun phrases in Japanese. I propose that NC and Q can head projections, NCP and QP, and can appear either DP-internally or -externally. Chapter 3 focuses on NCs and Qs with a partitive interpretation. I argue that a partitive interpretation is obtained as the head NC or Q assigns a theta-role to its complement DP within partitive constructions.
syntax japanese nominal projection cross_linguistic implication purpose_examine syntax japanese noun_phrase interpretation cross_linguistic point_view argue argument noun_phrase contain functional_head num well lexical projection etc across_language show argument noun_phrase japanese also_contain head correspond num variety interpretation explain_term position head semantic interaction other outline_theoretical background syntax noun_phrase provide review_literature concern japanese noun_phrase focus distribution numeral classifier quantifier appear within noun_phrase japanese propose head projection appear either internally externally focus partitive interpretation argue partitive interpretation obtain head assign role complement within partitive construction