a minimalist n0-to-spec a minimalist n0-to-spec approach

Abstract EN

This paper provides a minimalist analysis of structural ambiguity in Arabic DPs.

Three tenets constitute the crux of this paper: i) providing empirical data for structural ambiguity in MSA DPs, ii) investigating how ambiguity works at the level of syntax, and iii) proposing a minimalist approach to deriving Arabic1 DPs in general, and disambiguating them in particular.

Thus, I argue that MSA simple and Free State (FS) DPs rarely involve ambiguity due to their simple structure.

However, Construct State (CS) DPs are deemed to involve structural ambiguity due to their complex structure.

I also argue that structural ambiguity in Arabic DPs depends heavily on two main syntactic criteria, viz.

structure and agreement.

In that, the more the DP gets complex in structure, the more it involves ambiguity, and when there is a complete agreement in all ϕ-features, (in)definiteness and Case among the DP-internal constituents, ambiguity arises.

However, agreement is required only when the modifiers are APs.

Proposing N0-to-Spec movement, I show how N0-to-D0 movement violates certain conditions and constraints on movement.

I also propose a pseudo-VP in the case of deverbal CSs to disambiguate such DPs.