The Structure of Tagalog: Specificity, Voice, and the Distribution of Arguments
A. Rackowski, 2002
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This thesis examines the syntax of Tagalog with a particular focus on argument structure and its implications for clause structure. Through cross-linguistic comparison I show that Tagalog syntax is not as exotic as is often assumed and that it can be straightforwardly accounted for using available syntactic tools, primarily the theory of phases and Agree of Chomsky (1999, 2001). This study shows that there is no need to appeal to new parameter settings or new components of the grammar in order to account for the syntactic behavior of Tagalog (cf. Sells 1998, Speas 1998, Carrier-Duncan 1985, Kroeger 1993).
In this work I show that, contrary to widespread assumptions, the voice system of Tagalog does not reflect the thematic role of the subject argument. Instead, returning to the insight of Ramos 1974, I argue that voice morphology on the verb reflects the case that the subject argument receives in its base position. I also argue that the specificity properties of subjects and objects in Tagalog resemble those motivating object shift in Germanic languages: therefore, I conclude that Tagalog instantiates a system of generalized "argument shift". I show that the shift of specific arguments to the edge of the phase is strictly constrained by locality.
The analysis of voice and locality-constrained shift relies on a detailed study of argument positions in Tagalog. Using tests for hierarchical structure such as reflexive and pronominal variable binding, I examine the structural relations among external arguments, applicative arguments, direct objects, and adjuncts and show them to be in accordance with what is known about structural argument asymmetries cross-linguistically.
Thesis Supervisor: Alec Marantz
Title: Professor of Linguistics
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction 10
1.1 Theoretical orientation 12
1.1.1 Phases and voice 12
1.1.2 Agree and Move 12
1.1.3 Case 15
1.1.4 Distributed Morphology 17
1.2 The EPP and (quirky) case in Tagalog 18
1.3 Tagalog essentials 20
1.3.1 Voice 20
1.3.2 Word order and scrambling 22
1.3.3 Aspect 27
1.3.4 Nominal case 29
1.3.5 Extraction 30
1.4 On subjects 31
1.4.1 Topic vs. subject 31
1.4.2 Nominative vs. other 32
1.4.3 External argument vs. ang-phrase 33
Chapter 2 Distribution of arguments 34
2.1 Introduction 34
2.2 Transitive clauses 35
2.3 Applicatives 38
2.3.1 High applicatives 40
2.3.1.1 Benefactives 40
2.3.1.2 Instrumentals 48
2.3.1.3 Locatives 53
2.3.2 Low applicatives and the dative alternation 55
2.3.2.1 Dative alternation cross-linguistically 56
2.3.2.2 Tagalog revisited 59
2.4 Causatives 66
2.4.1 Productive causative 66
2.4.2 "Lexical" causative 70
2.5 Conclusion 74
Chapter 3 Subject and specificity 76
3.1 Introduction 76
3.2 Similarities to Germanic 78
3.3 Shift in Tagalog 80
3.3.1 The direct object as subject 80
3.3.2 External argument clauses 83
3.3.3 Benefactives 84
3.3.4 Ditransitives 86
3.4 Pronouns 88
3.5 The importance of pag 88
3.6 Causatives 92
3.7 Recent perfective 93
3.8 When there is no specific argument 95
3.9 Clausal subjects 95
3.10 Obviating the specificity effect in extraction environments 96
3.11 Conclusion 101
Chapter 4 The case of voice 102
4.1 Introduction 102
4.2 Voice markers 103
4.3 Theta-agreement and counter-evidence 105
4.4 Case and configuration 108
4.4.1 Accusative derivation 112
4.4.2 External arguments 114
4.5 Solving the theta problems 117
4.5.1 External arguments 117
4.5.2 Alternations 119
4.5.3 Causee agents 120
4.5.4 High and low applicatives 121
4.6 Unexpected dative objects 123
4.7 Oblique objects 126
4.7.1 Ditransitives 126
4.7.2 Lexical causatives 128
4.7.3 Productive causative 130
4.7.4 Against a purely semantic analysis 131
4.8 PRO subjects 133
4.9 Clausal subjects 133
4.10 Conclusion 134
Appendix Stative and abilitative 134