Anna Pineda | Sorbonne Université | Universität zu Köln
In this paper we provide a comprehensive picture of differential object marking in Catalan, focusing on both the empirical
facts and their theoretical contribution. We support some important conclusions. First, Catalan differential object marking is quite a
robust and widespread phenomenon, contrary to what prescriptive grammars assume. Second, we show that, from a formal perspective, Catalan
differential object marking cannot be completely subsumed under hierarchical generalizations known as scales. The
contribution of narrow syntax mechanisms and nominal structure is fundamental, supporting recent views by López (2012) or Ormazabal and Romero (2007, 2010, 2013a, b), a.o. Building
on these works as well as on observations initially made by Cornilescu (2000) and Rodríguez-Mondoñedo (2007), a.o., we adopt an analysis under which canonical, animacy-based
differential marking results from the presence of an additional (PERSON) feature, beyond Case. This structural make-up is not only at the
core of differences marked objects exhibit from unmarked objects with a Case feature, but also derives the prominence of differential
marking on (animates) under information-structure processes, in the high left (and right) periphery, in contexts of the type discussed by
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Fortuny, Jordi
2024. Structural Ambiguity and the Architecture of Language1. Studia Linguistica 78:1 ► pp. 35 ff.
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