Phi-features and the Modular Architecture of Language

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Modularity, Phi-Features, and Repairs

   • Milan Rezac

   Pages 1-24

3. Phi-Features in Realizational Morphology

   • Milan Rezac

   Pages 25-63

4. Person Hierarchy Interactions in Syntax

   • Milan Rezac

   Pages 65-92

5. Person Case Constraint Repairs in French

   • Milan Rezac

   Pages 93-175

6. Repairs and Uninterpretable Features

   • Milan Rezac

   Pages 177-277

7. Phi in Syntax and Phi Interpretation

   • Milan Rezac

   Pages 279-315

8. Back Matter

   Pages 317-326

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This monograph investigates the modular architecture of language through the nature of "uninterpretable" phi-features: person, number, gender, and Case. It provides new tools and evidence for the modular architecture of the human language faculty, a foundational topic of linguistic research. At the same time it develops a new theory for one of the core issues posed by the Minimalist Program: the relationship of syntax to its interfaces and the nature of uninterpretable features. The work sets out to establish a new cross-linguistic phenomenon to study the foregoing, person-governed last-resort repairs, which provides new insights into the nature of ergative/accusative Case and of Case licensing itself. This is the first monograph that explicitly addresses the syntactic vs. morphological status of uninterpretable phi-features and their relationship to interface systems in a similar way, drawing on person-based interactions among arguments as key data-base.

• Case
• Cross-linguistic
• Minimalist program
• Modular architecture
• Modularity
• Morphology
• Person hierachies
• Phi-features
• Repair strategies

From the reviews:

“Rezac certainly presents an impressive contribution to syntactic theorizing using what are often seen as problematic data. This monograph presents a novel mechanism for PCC and related effects in a number of languages. The work is well organized and contains substantial references. In sum, Rezac’s book is important for anyone interested in the architecture of grammar, minimalism, or Romance syntax.” (Michael Barrie, LINGUIST List 23.4397)

• Université de Paris 8, UMR 7023, Saint Denis Cedex, France

  Milan Rezac

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