Clause structure and V-movement in the languages of the Balkans

Abstract

Albanian, Bulgarian, Modern Greek, and Rumanian share the following clause structure: [CP C0 [MP M0 [T/AgrP T/Agr0 [AuxP Aux0 [VP V0]]]]]. In Balkan clauses, the phrase headed by the complementizer takes a phrase headed by an invariant modal particle as complement. The Tense/Agreement complex, the auxiliaries, and the main verb follow MP. In addition, Balkan languages share interesting varieties of X0-movement for non-finite verbs, with theoretical consequences for principles of UG. In Bulgarian and Rumanian, (Long) Head-movement raises V0 to C0 across the finite Aux0, as inProcel sŭm knigata ‘I have read the book’; such structures comply with the Empty Category Principle via Relativized Minimality, and escape the Head Movement Constraint. In Albanian, Greek, and Rumanian, Head-movement places the imperative V0 in C0, as inGhrapse to ‘Write it!’. Albanian imperatives show Long Head Movement and comply with the ECP like other LHM patterns in cases where the V-stem precedes the clitic and the affix in that order:Tregoj-i-ni ‘Tell him!’. Greek and Rumanian Gerunds display Head-movement to M0, as inI Maria kratondas to ‘Mary holding it’. In similar Albanian constructions M0 is filled, and this prevents V0-raising, as inPashe [Brixhiden [M0duke]kenduar] ‘I saw Brigitte singing’.