On Shared Indefinite NPs in Coordinative Structures

Abstract

Indefinite NPs in shared constituents in coordinative structures in German exhibit different referential options with respect to scope and specificity. These options are restricted by the informational status of the indefinite: A focused indefinite NP can receive all referential options, while a non-focused one can only get the narrow scope non-specific reading. Our analysis assumes that the information structure of the coordination determines the syntactic representation of the construction in terms of deletion or right-node-raising. Dependent on the syntactic structure, indefinite NPs exhibit different referential properties. Thus the particular properties of a shared indefinite can only accounted for in a theory that combines information structure, the syntax of coordination, and the semantics of indefinites.