Abstract
This paper discusses gapping in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and analyzes this phenomenon through the lexical-functional grammar (LFG) framework. It argues against previous analyses of nonconstituent coordination in LFG, including those proposed by Maxwell & Manning (1996) and Frank (2002) and her followers. The main problem with those analyses is that they violate one of the well-formedness conditions in LFG, which requires the functional structure (f-structure) to be coherent. Therefore, the paper provides a new analysis of gapping in LFG, in which the deleted verb in the second conjunct is analyzed as a null verb that has a PRED value and that indicates the tense in its local clause.
Highlights
Gapping, an important syntactic phenomenon that has attracted attention in the literature, has been explored in a variety of syntactic theories and analyses
The paper provides a new analysis of gapping in lexical-functional grammar (LFG), in which the deleted verb in the second conjunct is analyzed as a null verb that has a PRED value and that indicates the tense in its local clause
To propose an analysis in LFG that allows for an omitted predicate in the second conjunct, we suggest that this analysis use the so-called empty category, whereby the omitted verb is analyzed as a null verb that indicates a tense and requires arguments
Summary
An important syntactic phenomenon that has attracted attention in the literature, has been explored in a variety of syntactic theories and analyses. Maxwell & Manning (1996) conduct the main analysis that attempts to account for non-constituent coordination, including gapping, in LFG In this analysis, they assume that a phrase such as a VP or IP can be divided into two parts: the first part contains the verb in the first conjunct, and the second part contains the two complements in the coordinate structure. The second analysis of LFG that attempts to account for non-constituent coordination is so-called function spreading, which is adopted by Frank (2002) and Sadler (2006), among others In this analysis, some features of the first conjunct in a coordinate structure are assumed to be potentially spread over the entire coordinate structure. In the case of gapping, the PRED value of the verb and the tense should be assumed to be spread from the first conjunct over the entire construction This analysis will be discussed in a later section. We provide plausible reasons for supporting the new analysis in this paper
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
