THE LICENSING OF GENITIVES
Abstract
In this paper we attempt to clarify the nature of the relation between the possessor and a possessed concrete noun in an English genitive. It is argued that such a relation cannot be thematic, regardless of whether the head or the genitive marker is considered to be the theta role assigner. A view is outlined of both possession and modification which allows the possessor to be interpreted as a pure modifier. In addition, other cases of genitives are considered where the possessive item is either obligatorily (if present) or optionally coindexed with a Lexical Conceptual Structure (LCS) variable. The domain of the notion adjunct argument is modified to allow for the various relations a genitive may have to a head noun. This work supports a view of the Case Filter which considers case to be required by NPs rather than by arguments, and it is supported by the behaviour of post-nominal genitives.Downloads
Published
1993-09-09
How to Cite
Massam, D. (1993). THE LICENSING OF GENITIVES. Linguistica Atlantica, 15, 115–129. Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/la/article/view/22474
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