Abstract
Abstract
This paper examines the syntax of a novel construction I call Passive without Morphology (PwM) constructions in
Bùlì and the question of whether they have projected external arguments. The main proposal that I argue for is that PwM
constructions in all their occurrences possess projected implicit external arguments. The discussions presented in the paper
provide empirical as well as theoretical support for the classification of passives (Keenan
and Dryer 2007) and a theory of passives and implicit arguments (Collins
2021). This paper argues that the internal argument moves to Spec,TP in two steps: first, the VP moves into Spec,
VoiceP and from there the internal argument raises to Spec,TP (Collins 2005, 2021).
Publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Reference60 articles.
1. Middles and Non-Movement;Ackema;Linguistic Inquiry,1995
2. Middles
3. Reflexivation in Buli: A Preliminary Observation;Agbedor;Selected proceedings of the Annual Colloquium of the Legon-Trondheim Linguistic Project,2002