Empty Categories and Clitics

Abstract

In Spanish, third person object and dative clitics have a number of contrasting properties. Dative clitics allow doubling, and this is one of the reasons why it is interpreted as agreement. This chapter argues that dative clitics do not uniformly represent agreement. Specifically, when there is no overt doubling DP, dative clitics are incorporated determiners. Evidence for this proposal is found in DOM. When the clitic is doubled by a DP, the object cannot receive DOM; however, when it is not, DOM can, and (for most speakers) must be assigned to the object when conditions for DOM assignment are met. Evidence can also be found in the behavior of dative clitics in some laísta dialects. In these dialects, laísmo only shows up in those contexts where accusative Case can be assigned. Since accusative clitics are incorporated determiners, they are not compatible with doubling contexts.