Dependency Relations in the Syntactic Structure of Tunisian Arabic

Abstract:

This paper deals with facets of the derivation and representation of sentences in Tunisian Arabic (TA), a Null Subject Language (NSL). The focus of investigation is on the dependency relations that make it possible to have sentences that are mainly the result of Merge and insertion/deletion processes in an Agree-, Phase-theoretic framework of assumptions (Chomsky 2001, 2004). These Merge processes also include movement (the operation Move as part of Merge) for the satisfaction of the EPP (Extended Projection Principle – namely, every sentence must have a subject) at the interface between syntax and discourse. Central to the EPP-feature driven movement analysis is the assumption that morphological rules operate first pre-syntactically, at vocabulary selection in the Numeration, and have post-syntactic effects, i.e. at Phonetic Form (PF), without affecting Logical Form (LF) representations (Roberts 2010a,b; Holmberg 2010). As in Miyagawa’s (2010, pp. 5, 9) agreement approach to the EPP, not only are Merge and Move undertaken as a single syntactic operation – where elements projected onto the syntax are Merged and are then reprojected in a second-Merge operation – but also Move and the relation Agree are no longer distinguishable.