Competing controllers and agreement potential

Abstract

Abstract Archi presents a number of challenging problems for syntactic theory as a result of the (semi-)predictable non-uniformity within the agreement system. An adequate model must account for the behaviour of atypical controllers of agreement, such as coordinated noun phrases and other controllers capable of triggering semantic (rather than syntactic) agreement. Additional challenges are introduced by biabsolutive constructions in which there is more than one possible absolutive candidate as the controller for agreement. In such cases different agreement targets within an apparently monoclausal structure may be controlled by absolutive arguments with different grammatical functions. Variability is also encountered by virtue of differences in the agreement potential of items within a lexical class. This poses a particular problem for theories of syntax which assume that the agreement potential of lexical items is determined by their position in syntactic structure rather than lexically or morphologically determined properties of the word form.

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