PNI-property II: Lack of binding and control

Abstract

AbstractSince the scope diagnostic does not apply to all noun types which can optionally be case-marked in the languages of this study, we extend the investigation by two additional diagnostics, which are discussed in detail in this chapter. Bare nouns are taken as the baseline in each pseudo-incorporation language, which are consistently shown to not be able to act as binders or controllers. These tests are employed to probe for the PNI status of the rest of the noun types, specifically those for which scope tests are unavailable, for example demonstrative phrases and weak definites. The inability to bind or control into a clause is explained by the fact that binding is a nominal property, thus not available pseudo-incorporated nouns. One way to implement this assumption is by restricting the insertion of a binder prefix to nominal categories, which is spelled out in this chapter.