Recent minimalist approaches have reduced case to independent primitives (agreement, Tense) – but without any connection to its morphological expression. To solve this dichotomy, we consider the Latin -s case ending. Rejecting default treatments, we conclude that -s is associated with denotational, operator properties. These can be read as the set forming operator i.e. plural; as the inclusion operator, i.e. partitive, possessor, etc. (in a word ‘oblique’); or as the quantificational closure of EPP contexts (‘nominative’). These properties are preserved in the two-case declension of medieval Gallo-Romance, and in its residues in Romansh varieties. Thus so-called case is a denotational, ‘determiner-like’ element, with consequences for the classical historical correlation between loss of Latin case and development of the Romance determiner system.

(Definite) denotation and case in Romance. History and variation / M.R. Manzini; L.M. Savoia. - STAMPA. - (2011), pp. 149-165.

(Definite) denotation and case in Romance. History and variation.

MANZINI, MARIA RITA;SAVOIA, LEONARDO MARIA
2011

Abstract

Recent minimalist approaches have reduced case to independent primitives (agreement, Tense) – but without any connection to its morphological expression. To solve this dichotomy, we consider the Latin -s case ending. Rejecting default treatments, we conclude that -s is associated with denotational, operator properties. These can be read as the set forming operator i.e. plural; as the inclusion operator, i.e. partitive, possessor, etc. (in a word ‘oblique’); or as the quantificational closure of EPP contexts (‘nominative’). These properties are preserved in the two-case declension of medieval Gallo-Romance, and in its residues in Romansh varieties. Thus so-called case is a denotational, ‘determiner-like’ element, with consequences for the classical historical correlation between loss of Latin case and development of the Romance determiner system.
2011
9789027203830
Romance languages and linguistic theory 2009. Selected papers from 'Going Romance' Nice 2009
149
165
M.R. Manzini; L.M. Savoia
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/592015
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