Existential incorporation constructions

Abstract

This paper examines existential pseudo noun incorporating (PNI) constructions in Niuean (Polynesian). There are two types of existential PNI constructions in Niuean, one in which the incorporated element is the pivot of the existential construction, and the other in which the incorporated element is a pronominal locative phrase, with the pivot serving as an argument in the sentence. These are first analyzed as PNI constructions, and then they are compared both with existing analyses of existential constructions in other languages, and with other PNI constructions in Niuean. The two Niuean constructions line up with two conflicting analyses of existential sentences in English (the DP analysis and the small clause analysis). In comparing the existential PNI constructions with regular PNI constructions, it is noted that existential incorporation stands apart from regular incorporation in that the incorporated NP may be associated with a relative clause, and it introduces an entity with existential and discourse referential properties. It is argued that the referentiality of the incorporated NP is provided by the verb of existence, which thus functions both as a verb and a determiner, rather than by any DP-internal functional projection. In addition it is noted that phrases larger than noun phrases are subject to PNI in locative and existential constructions.