Phi-features and the Modular Architecture of - UMR 7023 - CNRS

201
(Basque, Tolosa T1, Rezac 2008c: 81)
(309) Nekatuta iruditzen di-dai-zuj
tired seeming R.1sDi.2pEj
You seem tired to me.
(Basque, Errenteria, Rezac 2008c: 82)
The ergativization follows from the Agree/Case theory of the PCC, like Icelandic
(255), and the ℜ mechanism of the PCC repair. Once S moves to its subjecthood
configuration near T, it has by-passed the dative within the vP, and come
within the reach of the potential Agree/Case locus T, (310) 146
(310) S2PL,ERG ↔Agree TERG,2PL
EPP/subjecthood
vABS [DATAppl [VP V tS]]
number, *person Agree
The difference with Icelandic is that the T of unaccusatives does not ordinarily
have a phi-probe in Basque. Only in the context of the PCC is it TERG (and only
in some varieties). This distribution of TERG is predicted by the analysis of the ergative
as dependent Case that emerges as needed through ℜ, (293). In the PCC
context, [+person] S fails to be Case-licensed by vABS, much as the EA of all transitives
fail to be licensed by vABS. This parallelism is displayed in (311).
(311) Pattern of ergative activation:
a. S-ABS T(*ERG) vABS tS-ABS (unaccusative)
b. T*(ERG) EA-ERG vABS O-ABS (transitive)
c. 3:S-ABS T(*ERG) vABS DAT tS-ABS (applic. unacc.)
d. 1/2:S-ERG T*(ERG) vABS DAT tS-(*ABS) (PCC, repair)
The mechanics of ergativization in PCC contexts (312) differ from that of transitives
(297) to the extent that the ergativized argument originates as S below vABS,
rather than as EA above it. The obligatory Case locus vABS has a lexically specified
phi-probe, which Agrees and Transfers. Agree is successful save in a PCC
context, (312)b, where the dative blocks Agree with [+person] S and the [Case:] of
S thus remains unvalued. However, in all contexts, S must independently move to
the edge of the v-phase prior to its Transfer by successive-cyclic movement, because
it will have to move to satisfy its EPP of T, (312)c. The ordering of this
movement and v-S Agree may be left free. Only derivations where S moves converge
for the EPP, so only they need be considered. The convergent v-phase therefore
does not contain S. It is at the level of the C/T-phase that the lack of Case on
a 1 st /2 nd but not 3 rd person S leads to a crashed Transfer, (312)f. At this point, ℜ
adds a phi-probe to the potential Agree/Case locus T, turning it into active TERG.
146 There are several alternatives for both Basque and Icelandic for the exact configuration in
which T Agrees with the derived S: Spec-Head as in (310), or under T raising, or T is really Fin,
or S lands below T as adopted in (312) below. See further Rezac (2008c: 82f.).