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aising) can be reduced to a single principle:
(57) In the unmarked case, infinitives have the same AGR-identifier option as finite sentences
in a given language.
We assume that, at least for control, this is only an unmarked case option for there would
be languages (Occitan and Sardinian) taking the marked option. Now, if we have a single
principle, the prediction would be that if Occitan and Sardinian take the marked option in
control, they take the marked option in raising infinitives too, namely, the AGR-identifier would
be the Spec of AGR in raising infinitives and AGR o in finite clauses. We argued that Spec of
AGR in a raising infinitive cannot be PRO because it would be governed by the 'seem' verb.
What other options are there left for Occitan or Sardinian?
If it were an empty anaphor, as is the case in English, it could in principle, like in
English, form a Chain with the main clause Spec of AGR. But the main Spec of AGR does not
receive Nominative Case, because in finite clauses AGR o assigns case only through Chain-
government, as we argued in Chapter 3. Therefore an empty anaphor is excluded. (Remember
preverbal subjects in NSLs enter a resumptive pronoun strategy with the I-subject, and elements
resumed by an expletive are not assigned Case themselves).
Since the Infinitival AGR o is rich by being coindexed with a main AGR o , it could
conceivably assign Case to is Specifier by agreement. But since the main AGR-identifier (AGR o )
has to assign case by forming a Government-Chain, there would be conflicting requirements on
the way Case is assigned: a Government-Chain can only assign Case by government, and its foot
cannot be an agreement-Case-assigner. If this (perhaps dubious) assumption is on the right track,
it would leave Occitan and Sardinian with no option for the AGR-identifier (Spec of AGR) of
raising infinitives. In fact, Sardinian does not have infinitival raising. 132
132 Jones' (1990) description of Sardinian, which is rather
cautious in excluding non-genuine constructions (Italianisms) is
categorical in this connection.
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