AMSA-16-0900
Author: Andrew Carnie and Heidi Harley
Title: Clausal Architecture: The licensing of major constituents in a Verb Initial Language.
Citation: ms. University of Arizona

	This book, written within the minimalist approach to syntactic theory, concerns the positioning and licensing of major constituents (Verb, Subject and Object) in a VSO (verb initial) language: Modern Irish.  We propose a theory of functional architecture that explains why this word order is found in some languages and not others, and explains certain unique properties of Irish syntax, such as the free distribution of PRO. The functional architecture we propose involves a split VP, and a reversed (Pollockian) TP, AgrP structure.
	Chapter 1 sets out the assumptions and claims made in the book. In chapter 2, we explore the positioning of the verb in a VSO language, and conclude that for Irish, it sits in the highest functional projection under the CP. In chapter 3,  we argue on the basis of object shift and the positioning of aspectual morphemes, that objects in Modern Irish sit outside the VP in a vP-internal AgrP.  In chapter 4, we argue for a functional architecture, in which TP dominates AgrSP (which we claim to be both empirically and conceptually necessary, contra Chomsky 1995). We associate TP with EPP features and AgrSP with case. Following closely the analysis of McCloskey (1996), we argue that Irish is a language without EPP features, but with movement for Case. This results in VSO order. In chapter 5, we explore the implications of this intricate proposal. In particular we show that such a system entails that PRO's distribution is not determined by Case, but rather by the EPP.  This explains several surprising facts about the behavior of Irish PRO. We then extend the analysis to non-Verb Initial languages, such as Icelandic and English. We show, following SigurDsson (1991), that PRO in Icelandic bears case, as predicted by our model. We also are able to explain the problematic alternations between PRO and overt nominals in English gerunds.