One, Empty Nouns, and θ-Assignment

Abstract

The standard analysis that the “pronominal count noun” one is an N′- or NP-level element is challenged and it is argued to be an N0. Moreover, the behavior of one is identified with that of a phonologically empty counterpart. The fact that these N heads lack descriptive content is shown to be the source of two of their distinctive properties: their inability to take arguments, which accounts for their superficially phrasal status, and their triggering of pronominal reference. The existence of a [pronominal] feature is argued against; instead, such noun heads' lack of descriptive content is claimed to be what LF interprets as “pronominal.”

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