Criterial Effects and Multiple Nominative Constructions

Criterial Effects and Multiple Nominative Constructions

  The major issues in multiple nominative constructions (MNCs) are the distribution of subject properties, theta role assignment, and nominative Case checking. In this paper, it is proposed that all DPs are subjects, merged in Spee-vP and that the different interpretations such as the topic-like or focus interpretations are obtained by displacement to the criterial position. The topic-like interpretation is obtained by raising to Spec-TP with the [+aboutness] feature checking to satisfy the Subject Criterion (sq, while the focus interpretation is obtained by raising to Spec-FocP with the [+focus] feature checking. This analysis consequently provides an account for theta role assignment. DPs base-generated in Spec-vP with no theta roles are licensed by checking their [+aboutness] feature in Spec-TP, satisfying SC. With regard to nominative Case assignment, it is claimed that the leftmost DPs are assigned nominative Case by default in Korean with no evidence of the presence of nominative Case assigners.