The Syntax Of Ellipsis: Evidence From Dutch Dialects (Oxford Studies In Comparative Syntax)

The Syntax of Ellipsis investigates a number of elliptical constructions found in Dutch dialects within the framework of the Minimalist Program. Using two case studies, Van Craenenbroeck argues that both the PFdeletion and the protheory of ellipsis are needed to account for the full range of elliptical phenomena attested in natural language.The first case study focuses on instances of stranding to the right of a sluiced whphrase: prepositions in English (What about?) and demonstrative pronouns in southern Dutch dialects (Wie dat? 'who that'). Van Craenenbroeck gives both of these phenomena a PFdeletion analysis, which turns out to have considerable repercussions for the structure of the left periphery and the syntax of whmovement. Specifically, while minimal whphrases move from their IPinternal base position to specCP, complex ones are basegenerated in the (split) left periphery.The second case study is concerned with Short Do Replies in southern Dutch dialects, a type of contradictory reply that at first sight bears a close resemblance to English VPellipsis. Van Craenenbroeck shows that in this case the ellipsis site is best represented as a null, structureless proform that is licensed by the head of a high PolP. Moreover, this pronominal is argued to occur in two other dialectal constructions as well: contradictory replies of the type Da's nie 'that is not' found in Brabant Dutch, and the occurrence of subject clitics and agreement endings on the words for yes and no in Southern Dutch dialects (e.g. Jans 'yesPLURALthey').The Syntax of Ellipsis will be of interest to scholars of the left periphery, whmovement, and Dutch dialects.