Inflectional features and clausal structure

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Abstract

This paper discusses the relation between verbal inflection and clausal structure, making the claim, based on evidence from Icelandic finite verb inflection, that formal verbal features, such as Number, Person, Tense and Mood, each represents (or corresponds to) a functional head in clausal structure. More generally, the paper claims that there is a one-to-one correspondance between formal features and functional heads in Universal Grammar, that is to say, narrow syntax universally complies to distributed heading, whereas compact heading is confined to (morpho)phonological form, hence giving rise to cross-linguistic variation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNordic and Baltic morphology : papers from a NorFA course, Tartu, June 2000
EditorsJussi Niemi, Janne Heikkinen
PublisherUniversity of Joensuu
Pages99-111
Volume36
ISBN (Print)952-458-005-5
Publication statusPublished - 2001

Publication series

Name
Volume36
ISSN (Print)1456-5528

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Specific Languages

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