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Rising!possesso s!in!Spanish1!
An onio!Fáb egas!
[email p o ec ed]!
Uni e si e e ,i,T omsø,
,,
Abs ac . In his pape we p opose ha some nominal s uc u es in ol e ising o a
possessi e p onoun om a lowe , de ec i e nominal domain o a s uc u e headed by
a noun wi h which hey do no hold any di ec seman ic ela ion. The condi ions
unde which his ope a ion can ake place a e explo ed. I can only happen when he
lowe domain is se e ely impo e ished; i is in oduced by a weak p eposi ion ha
does no de ine a phase and when he PP is selec ed by he head noun as i s
complemen .
Key!wo ds: possessi es, aising, inalienable possession, phases, Spanish
Resumen: Es e abajo p opone que algunas es uc u as nominales ienen ins ancias
de ascenso de un p onomb e posesi o desde un dominio nominal de ec i o has a una
es uc u a más al a, encabezada po un nomb e con el que no gua da elación
semán ica. Es o puede sucede solo cuando se cumplen cie os equisi os sin ác icos,
en e ellos que el dominio nominal bajo sea adicalmen e de ec i o y es é
in oducido po una p eposición débil, incapaz de de ini una ase, que el sus an i o
más al o oma como a gumen o in e no.
Palab as!cla e: posesi os, ascenso, posesión inalienable, ases, español
Resumo. Nes e a igo p opomos que algumas es u u as nominais en ol em a
subida de um p onome possessi o de um domínio nominal de ec i o mais baixo
pa a uma es u u a encabeçada po um nome com o qual não possuem qualque
elação semân ica di ec a. As condições sob as quais es a ope ação pode oma luga
são explo adas: apenas oco e quando um domínio mais baixo é se e amen e
empob ecido, é in oduzido po uma p eposição aca que não de ine a ase e quando
o SP é seleccionado pelo núcleo nominal como seu complemen o.
Pala as>cha e: possessi os, subida, posse inaliená el, ases, Espanhol
1.!All!ca ego ies!a e!c ea ed!equal:! ising!in! e bal!and!nominal!s uc u es!
I !we!conside ! he!his o y!o !gene a i e!g amma !since! he!la e! i ies! o!
he!p esen !days,!one!possible!way! o!in e p e !i !is! ha ! he! ocus!has!mo ed!
p og essi ely! om!speci ic!ca ego ies! o!gene al!ope a ions.!Ini ially,! he e!we e!
ew i ing! ules! ha ! ea ed! each! g amma ical! ca ego y! and! each! cons uc ion!
sepa a ely! (Chomsky! 1957).! La e ! on,! hese! ope a ions! we e! gene alized! o!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
1!We!a e!g a e ul! o!Juan!Romeu,!Pe e !S enonius,!Ta ald!Ta aldsen,!and! wo!
anonymous! e iewe s! om! IBERIA! o ! commen s! and! sugges ions! on! a! p e ious!
e sion! o ! his! a icle.! The! ollowing! abb e ia ions! a e! used! in! his! a icle:! SG.!
(‘singula ’),!PL.!(‘plu al’),!MASC.!(‘masculine’),!FEM.!(‘ eminine’)!and!OBL.!(‘oblique’).!
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classes! o ! ea u es! (Chomsky! 1965),! and! wi h! he! in oduc ion! o ! he!
Go e nmen ! &! Binding! p og am! and! he! de elopmen ! o ! mo e! abs ac ! non!
cons uc ion=speci ic! p inciples! (Chomsky! 1981),! he! ocus! mo ed! o! gene al!
ope a ions! ha ! applied! o! gi en! classes! o ! heads! (e.g.,! lexical! s.! unc ional),!
independen ly!o !i s!ca ego y!label!o ! he!cons uc ion!whe e! hey!a e!inse ed.!
In! he! Minimalis ! P og am! (Chomsky! 1995),! he! ocus! is! on! he! ope a ions!
(me ge,! ag ee)! ha ! a e! possible! inside! a! s uc u e,! independen ly! o ! ca ego y!
speci ica ions! and! he! lexical! s.! unc ional! dis inc ion.! The! immedia e!
consequence! o ! his! iew! is! ha ! he e! is! no! a! p io i! eason! o! expec ! he!
ope a ions! pe o med! on! e bal! s uc u es! o! be! any! di e en ! om! hose!
pe o med! on! nominal! s uc u es.! This! pape ! ies! o! con ibu e! o! his! iew!
showing! ha ! an! ope a ion! s ongly! associa ed! o! he! e bal! domain! in! he!
li e a u e,! ising,!is!also!a es ed!inside! he!nominal!domain,!s eng hening! hus!
he! p oposal! ha ! he! ca ego y! label! is! i ele an ! o ! he! ope a ions! ha ! a!
s uc u e!unde goes.!
Empi ically,!we!will!discuss! he! ollowing!con as .!
(1) a.!el!colo !de!sus!ojos!
! he!colou !o !he !eyes!
b.!su!colo !de!ojos!
!he !colou !o !eyes!
c.!*su!colo !de!los!ojos!
!he !colou !o ! he!eyes!!
The!ph ase!in!(1a)!is!unsu p ising:!we!ha e!a!head!noun!wi h!a!de ini e!
de e mine !which! akes!a!PP!complemen !(as!we!will!a gue;!c .!§3.4);! his!PP!
complemen !ca ies!a!possessi e,!which!de e mines! he!pe son!whose!eyes!we!
a e! alking! abou .! (1b)! is! mo e! su p ising;! he e! he! possessi e! appea s! in! he!
head!noun,!despi e! he! ac ! ha !i !is!in e p e ed!as! he!possesso !o ! he!noun!
embedded!unde ! he!PP!complemen .!We!a e!no ! alking!abou ! he!colou ! ha !
belongs! o!he ,!bu !abou ! he!eyes! ha !belong! o!he .!(1c)!shows! ha !as!soon!as!
he!noun!embedded!unde ! he!PP!ca ies!a!de e mine ,! he!displaced!s uc u e!
becomes!ung amma ical.!!
This!s uc u e!is!men ioned!in!§18.7l!o ! he!Nue a,G amá ica,de,la,Lengua,
Española.2!The!empi ical!goal!o ! his!pape !is! o!expand! he!desc ip ion!o ! he!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
2!No ice,!howe e ,! ha !in! his!sec ion!o ! he!NGRAE!a !leas ! wo!cons uc ions!
wi h! di e en ! empi ical! p ope ies! a e! add essed! oge he .! Among! he! di e ences!
be ween! he!pa e n!illus a ed!in!(1)!and!a!cons uc ion!like!mi,núme o,de, elé ono!‘my!
phone!numbe ’!we! ind! he! ollowing:!
i. In! mi, núme o, de, elé ono! he! PP! can! be! subs i u ed! by! a! ela ional!
adjec i e!(mi,núme o, ele ónico)!
ii. In! mi, núme o, de, elé ono! he! lowe ! noun! does! no ! hold! an! inalienable!
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phenomenon,!conside ing!as!many! ac o s!as!possible.!This!is!done!in!§2.!This!
pape ! has,! in! addi ion! o! his,! a! wo= old! heo e ical! goal.! The! i s ! one! is! o!
s udy! his! phenomenon! om! he! pe spec i e! o ! phase! heo y,! as! a! way! o !
p o iding!e idence! o ! he!phase!na u e!o !DPs;! his,!being!ou !mos ! heo e ical!
goal,!is!le ! o ! he! inal!sec ion!o ! he!pape !(§4).!Secondly,!we!wan ! o!mo i a e!
he!empi ical!p ope ies!o ! he!cons uc ion!inside!a! ee=s uc u e! ha ! ea s! he!
lowe ! noun! in oduced! by! he! p eposi ion! as! a! unc ionally=de ec i e! PP!
complemen !o ! he!highe !noun.!We!will! ela e! his!nominal!cons uc ion! o! he!
well=known! aising!pa e n!illus a ed!in!(2),!as!we!will!add ess!mo e! echnical!
aspec s!o ! he!phenomenon.!
(2) a.!Pa ece!que!los!pája os!es án!can ando.!!
!Seems! ha ! he!bi ds!a e!singing!‘I !seems! ha ! he!bi ds!a e!singing’!
b.!Los!pája os!pa ecen!es a !can ando.!
!The!bi ds!seem! o!be!singing!‘The!bi ds!seem! o!be!singing’!
c.!*Los!pája os!pa ecen!que!es án!can ando.!
!The!bi ds!seem! ha !a e!singing.!
The e!a e!some!ob ious!simila i ies!be ween!(1)!and!(2).!In!(2b),!as!in!(1b),!
he e!is!a!cons i uen ! ha !is!in e p e ed!associa ed! o! he!dependen !o ! he!wo d!
i ! ag ees! wi h:! despi e! he! ac ! ha ! los, pája os! ag ees! wi h! pa ecen,! i ! is!
in e p e ed!as!pa !o ! he!p edica e!subo dina ed! o! his! e b.!In!(2c),!as!in!(1c),!
a! o mal! p ope y! o ! he! cons i uen ! ha ! depends! on! he! head! makes! he!
cons uc ion! ung amma ical:! he! p esence! o ! s ong! in lec ion! on! he!
subo dina e!clause.!
In! his!pape ,!we!will!a gue! ha ! he!co ec !analysis!o ! he!con as !in!(1)!
is!essen ially! he!same!as!in!(2):! o! ea ! he! ising!elemen !(he e! he!possesso )!
as!a!cons i uen ! ha !o igina es!in!a!lowe !domain,!whe e!i !holds!an!a gumen =
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
possession! ela ion!wi h! he!possesso .!
iii. In!mi,núme o,de, elé ono! he!PP!can!be!elimina ed,!and! he!possessi e!is!
in e p e able!wi hou ! ha !PP!as!a!modi ie !o ! he!noun!wi hou !change!
in! meaning! (mi, núme o);! in! con as ,! in! mi, colo , de, ojos!(‘my! colou ! o !
eyes’),! emo ing! he! PP! changes! he! meaning! o ! he! cons uc ion,!
showing! ha ! he! possessi e! es ablishes! he! seman ic! ela ion! wi h! he!
noun! con ained! inside! he! PP.! Some hing! like! mi, colo !mus ! be!
in e p e ed!as! he!colou ! ha ! he!speake !has,!as!a!whole,!in! he!body,!o !
some!colou !which!is!somehow!di ec ly! ela ed!wi h! he!speake .!!
i . Mi, núme o, de, elé ono!allows,! a ! leas ! ma ginally,! a! de e mine ! in! he!
lowe ! domain! and! p eposi ions! o he ! han! de!‘o ’:! mi,núme o,(habi ual),
pa a, odos,los, elé onos,que,poseo!’!my!(usual)!numbe ! o !all! he!phones!
ha !I!own’!
This!pape !will!no !analyze! he!mi,núme o,de, elé ono!cons uc ion.!!
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p edica e! ela ion.! Mo emen ! is! possible! o! he! ex en ! ha ! he! cons i uen !
es ablishes!a! o mal! ela ionship!wi h!a!highe !head! ha !domina es!i ,!p o ided!
ha ! minimali y! and! he! limi s! o ! syn ac ic! phases! a e! me .! The e! a e! some!
di e ences! wi h! espec ! o! he! na u e! (and! compulso y! na u e)! o ! he!
mo emen !unde gone!by! his!cons i uen ,!bu ! he!si ua ions!whe e!mo emen !is!
blocked!and! he!condi ions!unde !which!i !is!possible!a e!basically!iden ical.!
2.!Dissec ing! he!cons uc ion!
We! will! i s ! empi ically! mo i a e! he! con en ion! ha ! hese! s uc u es!
hold! a! pa allelism! wi h! e bal! ising! cons uc ions! desc ibing! he! p ope ies!
ha ! hey!show!wi h! espec ! o! he!na u e!o ! he!head!noun,! he!na u e!o ! he!
embedded!noun,! he! ela ion!be ween! he!possessi e!and! he!lowe !noun!and!
he!na u e!o ! he!PP! ha !in oduces!i .!!
2.1.!The!head!noun!
One! i s ! eason! o! ea ! hese!as!cons uc ions!in ol ing! aising!is! ha !
only!some! o ! he! head! nouns! gi e! ise! o! he! con as ! be ween! (1a)! and! (1b).!
Below,!we!con as !(3)!wi h!(4).!!
(3) a.!el!es ado!de!su!salud!
! he!s a e!o !his!heal h!
b.!su!es ado!de!salud!
!his!s a e!o !heal h!
(4) a.!el!sec e o!de!sus!ojos!
! he!sec e o!o !he !eyes!
b.!*su!sec e o!de!ojos!
!he !sec e !o !eyes!
The! i s !ques ion!is,! he e o e,! o!de e mine! he!class!o !nouns! ha !can!
ake! pa ! in! his! ype! o ! cons uc ion! and! o! mo i a e! ha ! hey! can! be!
conside ed!seman ically!special.!The!gene aliza ion!seems! o!be! ha !only! hose!
nouns,!mo phologically!de i ed!o !no ,! ha !deno e! he!di e en !p ope ies!o !
indi iduals!can!appea !in! his!cons uc ion.!!In!(5),!we!exempli y!(only!wi h! he!
s uc u e!in!(1b)!and!(3b),!as!(1a)!and!(3a)!is!any!noun!allowed)! hese!nouns! o !
he! classes! o ! size,! leng h,! heigh ,! dep h,! empe a u e,! we ness,! weigh ! and!
wid h,! which! a e! all! conside ed! scala ! p ope ies! ( ha ! is,! p ope ies! whose!
in e nal!seman ic!s uc u e!con ains!di e en !o de ed! alues).!!In! ine=g ained!
p oposals! ha !decompose! he!adjec i al!domain!in o!a! ich!numbe !o !heads,!
hese!adjec i es! end! o!be!high!o !middle!(Sco !1998).!!
(5) a.!su! amaño!de!semilla!e.!!su!ancho!!!!de!homb os!
!i s!size!!!!!!!o !!seed!! ! he !wid h!!o !shoulde s!!!!!!!!!
!‘ he!size!o !i s!seed’! ! ‘ he!wid h!o !he !shoulde s’!
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b.!!su!longi ud!de!b azos! .!!su!calidez!!!!de!!alien o!
!he !leng h!!!o !!a ms!! ! he !wa m h!o !b ea h!!
!‘ he!leng h!o !he !a ms’! ! ‘ he!wa m h!o !he !b ea h’!
c.!su!al u a!de! ono!g.!su!pesadez!!!!!de!pie nas!
!i s!heigh !o ! one!! ! he !hea iness!o !legs’!!!
!‘ he!heigh !o !i s! one’! !
d.!su!p o undidad!de!co e!h.!su!sequedad!de!boca!!
! hei !dep h!!!!!!!!!o !cu !! ! he !d yness!!!o !mou h!!
!‘ he!dep h!o ! hei !cu ’! ! ‘ he!d yness!o !he !mou h’!
O he !nouns!can!appea !in! he!same!cons uc ion!when! hey!deno e!p ope ies!
simila ! o! hese!and!no !physical!objec s.!
(6) su!{ alla!/!núme o}!de!zapa o!
he !size!/!numbe !o !shoe!‘ he!size!o !he !shoe’!
Nouns! ela ed! o!non!scala !p ope ies,!like!colou ,!shape,!smell!and! eel,!
can!also!appea !in! he!same!cons uc ion;! he!adjec i es!co esponding! o! hese!
no ions!a e!me ged!qui e!low!in! he!syn ac ic!s uc u e!(Sco ,!op.ci )!(7).3!
(7) a.!su!colo !de!ojos!d.!su!cu a u a!de!pie nas!
!he !colou !o !eyes! ! he !cu a u e!o !legs!
b.!su! edondez!de! u o!e.!su!con o no!de!muslo! !
!i s! oundness!o ! ui ! ! he !con ou !o ! high!! !
c.!su! ex u a!de!piel! .!su!olo !de!pies!
!i s! ex u e!o !skin!! ! he !smell!o ! ee ! !
Again,!nouns! e e ing! o! he!same!p ope ies!o !o he s!simila ! o! hem!
(smell,! o !ins ance)!can!appea !in! he!cons uc ion.!
(8) a.!su!co e!de!ca a!b.!su!a co!de!cejas!
!he !cu !o ! ace!! ! he !a ch!o !eyeb ows!
!‘ he!shape!o !he ! ace’! ! ‘ he!a ch!o !he !eyeb ows’!
Mo e! concep ually,! unde speci ied! nouns! a e! also! allowed! (9).! ! By!
concep ually! unde speci ied! we! mean! nouns! ha ! deno e! hype onyms! o !
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
3!Some! p ope y=deno ing! nouns! no mally! do! no ! ake! pa ! in! he! s uc u e! due! o!
independen ! easons.! Those! ha ! exp ess! p ope ies! ha ! apply! equally! o! all! he! pa s! o ! an!
indi idual! canno ! ake! pa ! because! o ! p agma ic! easons:! su,ju en ud, de, os o!‘he ! you h! o !
ace’,!is!no !accep able!in! he!li e al!meaning!because! he! ace!o !a!pe son!would!be!jus !as!old!as!
any!o he !pa !o !he .!Only!in!a! igu a i e!meaning!(‘ he!young!exp ession!o !he ! ace’)!(does!i !
become)! accep able.! The! noun! es a u a!‘s a u e’! does! no ! allow! he! cons uc ion! because! i !
applies! o! he!whole!heigh !o !a!human!being,!no !o !one!o !his!pa s,!and!lacks! he!necessa y!
possesso !e en!in! he!absence!o ! ising!(con as !la,es a u a,de,Juan!‘ he!s a u e!o !Juan’!wi h!*la,
es a u a,de,sus,pie nas!‘ he!s a u e!o !his!legs’).!No ice! ha !nouns! ha !deno e!dimensions!(no !
p ope ies)! canno ! ake! pa ! in! he! cons uc ion;! o ! example,! peso!‘weigh ’! ( s.! pesadez,!
‘hea iness’).!Con as !(5i)!wi h!*su,peso,de,pie nas!‘he !weigh !o !legs’.!This!con as ! ollows!i !
only!nouns!deno ing!p ope ies!can! ake!PPs!as!complemen s.!!

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di e en !classes!o !p ope ies!(such!as!s a es,!exp essions,!s uc u es,!sys ems,!
e c.)!wi hou ! e e ing! o!any!speci ic!physical!dimension!o !quali y.!
(9) a.!su!es ado!de!cuen a! d! su!cons i ución!de!cue po!
!he !s a e!o !accoun !! ! he !cons i u ion!o !body!
!‘ he!s a e!o !he !accoun ’! !
b.!su!exp esión!de!ca a!e.!su!es uc u a!de! ima! !
!he !exp ession!o ! ace!! ! i s!s uc u e!o ! hyme!
c.!su!calidad!de! ida! .!su!sis ema!de! ida!!
!he !quali y!o !li e! ! he !sys em!o !li e!
! ! g.!su!mo imien o!de!b azos! !
! ! ! he !mo emen !o !a ms! !
Some!nouns!impose! u he ! es ic ions!on! he!class!o !nouns! ha !can!be!
in oduced!by! he!PP!in! his!cons uc ion.!I !is!compulso y! ha ! he!lowe !noun!
is!an!e en !noun!(G imshaw!1990)!when! he!highe !noun!deno es!one!o ! hese!
h ee!sepa a e!concep ual!no ions:! ime,!place!o !speed.!
(10) a.!su!á ea!de!dis ibución!d.!su! echa!de!llegada!
! hei !a ea!o !dis ibu ion! ! he !da e!o !a i al!
b.!su!luga !de!o igen!e.!su!mes!de!publicación!
!! his!place!o !o igin! ! i s!mon h!o !publica ion!
c.!su! elocidad!de!c ecimien o!
!i s!speed!o !g ow h!
In!all! hese!cases,! he!seman ic!gene aliza ions! ha !we!ha e!desc ibed!do!
no !always!seem! o!be!ins an ia ed!by!a!syn ac ic! ea u e.!The!no ions!deno ed!
by! he!nouns! ha !allow! o ! he!cons uc ion!migh ! o m!a!na u al!class! om! he!
pe spec i e!o !concep ual!seman ics,!bu !no !necessa ily! om! he!pe spec i e!o !
he!mo phosyn ac ic! ea u es! ha !unde lie! hese!nouns.!I !is! e y!implausible!
ha ! no ions! o ! speed,! ime! and! place,! which! equi e! an! e en ! noun,! be!
subsumed!by!one!single! ea u e!in! he!syn ax!o ! he!s uc u e.!In!con as ,! om!
a!concep ual!pe spec i e,!i !makes!sense! o!say! ha !only!e en s!can! ake!place!
a ! pa icula ! momen s! and! places,! and! hus,! only! hey! can! happen! a ! some!
speed.!!
This! si ua ion,! whe e! he! gene aliza ion! is! based! on! concep ual!
in o ma ion!bu !no !on!syn ac ic! ea u es,!is! eminiscen !o !seman ic!selec ion.!
Indeed,! he!se !o !nouns! ha !can!ac !as! he!complemen !o !a! e b,!like!‘ o!ea ’,!
o m!a!na u al!class!in! e ms!o ! hei !concep ual!seman ics!( hey!a e!di e en !
kinds!o ! ood),!bu !i !seems!unlikely! ha !we!wan ! o!endow!ou !syn ax!wi h!a!
ea u e![ ood]! ha ! hese! e bs!ha e! o!check.!!
As!we!will!see!in!§3,! his!simila i y!is!pa !o !ou !analysis.!Ou !p oposal!
is! p ecisely! ha ! he! cons uc ion! is! only! possible! when! he! PP! is! he!
complemen !o ! he!highe !noun;!only!in!a!head=complemen !con igu a ion,!can!
!
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he!noun!seman ically!selec ! he!PP!and!is! he!possesso !able! o!escape! om! he!
PP.!!
To! inish! his!sec ion,!we!poin !ou !a! u he !con as ! ha !shows! ha ! he!
p edica ion!be ween! he!highe !noun!and! he!lowe !noun!is!a!necessa y!bu !no !
su icien !condi ion! o ! he!cons uc ion! o!be!possible.!Only!when! he!p ope y!
deno ed!by! he!highe !noun!is!a ! he!indi idual=le el,!can! he!cons uc ion!be!
ins an ia ed.! This! is! shown! by! he! ung amma icali y! o ! (11a),! and! by! he!
con as !be ween!(11b)!and!(11c).!
(11) a.!*su!desnudez!de!pie nas!
!his!nakedness!o !legs!
b.!*su! ialdad!de!pies!
!his!coldness!o ! ee !
c.!!su! ialdad!de!espí i u!
!his!coldness!o !soul!
A! p ope y! ha ! in! Spanish! mus ! be! s age=le el,! like! ha ! exp essed! by!
desnudo,!‘naked’,!canno ! ake!pa !in! he!cons uc ion!(11a).!An!adjec i e!like! ío,!
‘cold’,!can!be!in e p e ed!as!bo h!indi idual!and!s age=le el:!when! e e ing! o!
ee ,! he!na u al!in e p e a ion!is!s age=le el!(11b);!howe e ,!when! e e ing! o!
souls,! he! na u al! in e p e a ion! is! indi idual=le el! (11c).! ! Indeed,! Spanish!
would!use! he!s age=le el!copula!es a !in! he!sen en ial!exp ession!o !(11b),!bu !
he!indi idual=le el!se !in!(11c).!Thus,!i !seems! ha ! he!p edica ion!is! es ic ed!
only! o!indi idual=le el!cases.!
2.2.!The!impo e ished!s uc u e!o ! he!lowe !nominal!cons i uen !
Jus !as!in! he!case!o !subjec ! ising,! he!possibili y!o !ha ing!possessi e!
ising! depends! on! he! lowe ! cons i uen ! ha ing! a! se e ely! impo e ished!
unc ional!s uc u e.!The! ising!cons uc ion!is!blocked!by! he!p esence!o ! he!
de ini e!a icle!(as!seen!in!1c),!quan i ie s!(12),!nume als!(13)!o !adjec i es,!p e=
nominal!o !pos nominal!(14).!!!!
(12) a.!la! edondez!de!sus!muchos! u os!
! he! oundness!o !i s!many! ui s!
b.!*su! edondez!de!muchos! u os!
!i s! oundness!o !many! ui s!
(13) a.!el!colo !de!sus!dos!ojos!
! he!colou !o !he ! wo!eyes!
b.!*su!colo !de!dos!ojos!
!he !colou !o ! wo!eyes!
(14) a.!el!colo !de!sus!g andes!ojos!
! he!colou !o !he !big!eyes!
b.!!su!colo !de!(*g andes)!ojos!(*g andes)!
!he !colou !o !(big)!eyes!(big)!
!
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In! he!highe !domain,! hese!modi ie s!a e!allowed.!!
(15) a.!su!mucha! elocidad!de! uelo!
!i s!much!speed!o ! ligh !‘ he!conside able!speed!o !i s! ligh ’! !
b.!sus!dos!luga es!de!nacimien o!
!he ! wo!places!o !bi h!
c.!!su!in enso!colo !de!ojos!
!he !in ense!colou !o !eyes!
A ! his! poin ,! pe haps! one! would! like! o! say! ha ! he! absence! o !
unc ional!ma e ial!be ween! he!head!noun!and! he!possesso !is!due! o! he! ac !
ha ! he!cons uc ion!is!a!mo phological!compound.!!Howe e ,! his!op ion!can!
be! quickly! shown! o! be! w ong.! The! i s ! unexpec ed! p ope y,! i ! he!
cons uc ion! was! a! compound,! is! he! ac ! ha ! each! one! o ! he! membe s! can!
in lec ! sepa a ely.! ! The! ph asal! compound! in! (16a)! is! con as ed! wi h! he!
s uc u e!unde !s udy!(16b).!!The!lowe !noun!can!show!independen !numbe !
in lec ion!in!(16b):! ha !is! o!say,! he!lowe !noun!can!appea ,!depending!on! he!
seman ics,! bo h! in! he! singula ! and! in! he! plu al! o ms,! wi h! comple e!
independence!o ! he!numbe !shown!by! he!highe !noun.!!Despi e! he!p agma ic!
in elici y!o !(16b)!when! he!noun!‘eye’!appea s!in!singula !(which!is!sa ed!i ! he!
woman!we!a e! alking!abou !is!one=eyed)! he!lowe !noun!can!appea !in!singula !
o !plu al.!In!ph asal!compounds,!in!con as ,! he!lowe !noun!is! ossilized!in!a!
pa icula ! numbe ! alue! (as! shown! in! 16a,! whe e! he! lowe ! noun! is! ixed! in!
singula !numbe ).!!
(16) a.!su(s)!ojo(s)!de!buey(*es)!
!he (pl)!eye(s)!o !ox(*en),!‘he !po holes’!
b.!!su(s)!colo (es)!de!ojo(s)!
!he (pl)!colou (s)!o !eye(s)!
Numbe ! in lec ion,! placed! in! Numbe P! (Ri e ! 1991)! is! he! only!
unc ional! head! ha ! can! appea ! in! he! lowe ! nominal! cons i uen ,! bu ! his!
di e ence!is!enough! o!show! ha ! hese!cons uc ions!a e!no !compounds.!!
Secondly,! ph asal! compounds! a e! lis ed! in! he! lexicon! due! o! wo!
p ope ies.!The! i s !one!is! ha ! hey!ha e!an!unp edic able!meaning! ha !does!
no !co espond! o! he!combina ion!o !i s!pa s.!This!is!ob iously! he!case!in!ojo,
de, buey! ‘po hole’,! bu ! he e! is! no! need! o! lis ! any! o ! he! membe s! o ! his!
cons uc ion,! because! hei ! meaning! is! composi ionally! p edic able! om! he!
meaning!o !i s!pa s.!The!second! eason! o!lis !a!ph asal!compound!is! ha ,!due!
o! i s! lexicalized! s a us,! he! elemen s! ha ! compose! i ! canno ! be! p oduc i ely!
eplaced! by! o he ! i ems.! ! In! i s! meaning,! he! noun! buey,! ‘ox’,! in! ojo, de, buey!
canno ! be! eplaced! by! any hing! else.! ! In! con as ,! conside ! a! sample! o ! he!
nouns! ha !can!appea !as!possible!membe s!o ! he!cons uc ion!su, alla,de!‘he !
size!o ’;!no ice! ha !we!ha e!chosen,!on!pu pose,!a!head!noun! ha !is!al eady!
!
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seman ically! es ic ed! o!sizes!o !clo hes!and!body!pa s!sepa a ely!co e ed!by!
clo hes!in!o de ! o!s eng hen!ou !poin .!
(17) a.!su! alla!de!sos én!e.!!su! alla!de!anillo!
!he !size!o !b a! ! he !size!o ! ing!
b.!su! alla!de!pechos! .!!su! alla!de!guan es!
!he !size!o !b eas s! ! he !size!o !glo es!
c.!su! alla!de!zapa os!g.!su! alla!de!colla !
!he !size!o !shoes! ! i s!size!o !colla !(w. . .!pe s)!!!!
d.!su! alla!de!calzoncillos!h.!su! alla!de!pan alones!
!he !size!o !unde wea ! ! his!size!o ! ouse s! !
Thi dly,!compounds!(e en! hose! ha !a e!ph asal)! amously!do!no !allow!
in e nal! adjec i al! modi ica ion! (an! ins an ia ion! o ! he! No=Ph ase! Cons ain ,!
Bo ha!1983).!I !we! ake!a!bona, ide!ph asal!compound!like!(18a),!i !does!no !allow!
an!in e nal!adjec i e.!!Howe e ,! hese!s uc u es!do!(18b).!
(18) a.!luna!de!miel! ~! luna!(*p eciosa)!de!miel!
!moon!o !honey!!moon!(beau i ul)!o !honey!
! ‘honeymoon’!
b.!su! alla!(desmesu ada)!de!pan alones!
!he !size!(ino dina e)!o ! ouse s!
We! conclude,! hus,! ha ! hese! cons uc ions! do! no ! beha e! like!
compounds,! as! hey! allow! o ! independen ! in lec ion! o ! each! one! o ! i s!
cons i uen s! and! a e! no ! lexicalized.! ! The! analysis! o ! he! cons uc ion! will! be!
pu ely!syn ac ic.!
2.3.!The! ela ion!be ween! he!lowe !noun!and! he!possessi e!
In! ising!s uc u es,! he!cons i uen !in! he!lowe !domain!mus !assign!a!
he a! ole! o! he!displaced!subjec .!!Thus,!we!expec ! ha ! he! ela ion!be ween!
he! possessi e! and! he! lowe ! noun! also! coun s! o ! he! cons uc ion! o! be!
g amma ical!and,! u he mo e,! ha !i !can!be!assimila ed!in!some!wide!sense! o!
‘ he a! ma king’.! ! Indeed,! his! seems! o! be! he! case;! he! cons uc ion! is! only!
possible!when! he!possesso !and! he!lowe !noun!a e! ela ed! h ough!inalienable!
possession!o !a!syn ac ically!ins an ia ed!a gumen =p edica e! ela ion,!meaning!
ha ! he! low! noun! mus ! hold! a! syn ac ically! speci ied! ela ion! wi h! ano he !
en i y!in!o de ! o!be!seman ically!in e p e ed.!!Con as ! he! ollowing!pai s:!
(19) a.!su!colo !de!ojos!
!he !colou !o !eyes!
a’.!*su!colo !de!coche!
!he !colou !o !ca !
b.!su!ancho!de!ca a!
!he !wid h!o ! ace!
!
!
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(32) la! o ma![de!sus!dos!ojos]!
!PP!
!
! P! DP!
!
!Sus! D!
!
! D! ! QP!
! ø!
! Q! ! NumP!
!dos!
!Num!NP!
!ojoj=s! j!
(33) a.!su! o ma![de!(*los)!(*dos)!ojos]! !
b.!!PP! !
!
! P! NumP!
!de!
!Num!NP!
! =s! ojo=! !
Gi en! he! educed! unc ional! s uc u e! in! (33),! he! de e mine ,! he!
quan i ie ! and! he! adjec i e! a e! impossible! because! he! noun! lacks! he!
p ojec ions! whe e! hey! can! be! in oduced! as! heads! o ! speci ie s.! ! The e! a e!
simply!no!FPs! o!in oduce! he!modi ie s!o !D!o !Q!heads! o!in oduce! he!o he !
elemen s.7!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NP,!would!be! o! ollow!Bo e !(2005)!in!he !p oposal! ha ! he!Ns! ha !ma ks! he!plu al!is!
no !in oduced!as!Numbe !mo phology,!bu !as!a!low!Di iso !head,!belonging! o! he!
noun!a ea,!which!de e mines! ha ! he!head! noun! is! coun .!!I !would!be! emp ing! o!
ea ! he! Spanish! plu al! ma ke ! as!a! mani es a ion! o ! he!Classi ie .! In! ha ! case,! he!
si ua ion!would!be! ha !only! he!ma e ial! ha !belongs! o! he!NP!a ea!is!p esen !in! he!
impo e ished!s uc u e!o ! he!PP,!while!all! he! unc ional!heads!belonging! o! he!AP,!
NumP!and!DP!mus !be!absen .!We!will!no !adop ,! hough,! his!p oposal!!The! eason!is!
ha ,!when! he! unc ional!s uc u e!is!impo e ished,!i ! he!possesso ! emains!in!si u! he!
noun!mus !p ecede!i ;! his!sugges s! ha ! he!lowe !noun!needs!an!NP!ex e nal!posi ion!
as!a!landing!si e.!The!excep ional!na u e!o !numbe !in lec ion,! hough,!migh !be! ela ed!
o! he! ac ! ha !i !is!g amma icalized!as!a!mo phological!p ope y!o ! he!head!noun,!and!
no !as!an!independen !complex!cons i uen .!
7!The!impo e ishmen !o ! he!lowe !NP!a ea!is!accompanied!by!seman ic!e ec s.!
Compa e! he! wo!ph ases!in!(i).!In! he! i s !one,!wi h! ising!and!an!impo e ished!lowe !
nominal!domain,! he!in e p e a ion!mus !be!one!o !cha ac e is ic!p ope y,! ha !is,! he!
colou ! o ! he! shoes! ha ! she! ypically! wea s! and! can! cha ac e ize! he ! physical!
appea ance.!In! he!second,!wi h!a!comple e!se !o ! unc ional!p ojec ions!in! he!lowe !

!
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3.3.!The!posi ion!o ! he!PP!
Gi en! his!backg ound,!le !us!conside !now! he!posi ion!occupied!by! he!
whole!PP! ela i e! o! he!highe !noun.!We!p opose! ha ! his!is! he!s uc u e!o !a!
noun! ph ase! such! as! el, sec e o, de, sus, ojos! ‘ he! sec e o! o ! he ! eyes’! (unused!
unc ional!p ojec ions! emo ed! o !con enience).!The!PP!is!in oduced!as! he!
speci ie !o !a!modi ie =in oducing!head,!belonging! o! he!adjec i e!domain.8!
(34) ! ! DP!
!
D! NumP!
el!
!Num! ! FP!
!sec e oi!
!PP! F!
! ! ! !
!de!sus!ojos! F0!NP!
! ! ! i!
The!main!noun!sec e !p ojec s!a!whole! unc ional!sequence! ha !includes!
a!de e mine ,!numbe !in o ma ion!and!a! unc ional!posi ion! o!hos ! he!PP!as!a!
speci ie .!We!assume! ha ,!in! he!pos =syn ac ic!componen ,! he!head!noun!sec e !
which!always!mo es! o!Num0!in!Spanish!is!linea ized!be o e! he!PP,!gi ing,!as!a!
esul ,! he!o de !D=N=PP.!In!con as ,! he!s uc u e! ha !we!p opose! o !a!ph ase!
like!el,colo ,de,sus,ojos!‘ he!colo !o !he !eyes’,!wi h!a!head!noun! ha !exp esses!a!
p ope y!o ! he!noun!in oduced!by! he!p eposi ion,!is! he!one!in!(35).!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
domain,!howe e ,! he!cha ac e is ic!in e p e a ion!is!no !necessa y:!i !can!be! he!colou !
o !wha e e !shoes!she!happens! o!wea !a !a!momen .!
a.!su!colo !de!zapa os!
!!!!he !colou !o !shoes!
b.!el!colo !de!sus!zapa os!
!!!! he!colou !o !he !shoes!
This!di e ence! ollows! om! he!absence!o !a!DP!in! he!lowe !domain.!As! he e!
is! no! pai ! o ! speci ic! shoes! ha ! a e! being! e e ed! o! in! (ia),! he! noun! has! o! be!
in e p e ed!as! he! kind!o ! shoes! ha ! a e! owned! by! he ,!no ! as!a! de e mined! pai ! o !
shoes! ha ! she! owns.! The! kind! in e p e a ion! o ! he! lowe ! NP! is! wha ! igge s! he!
cha ac e is ic!p ope y! eading.!!
8!As! o ! he! ea u es! ha !de ine! he!head!F0,!see!Cinque!(1993,!1995,!2010).!This!
head!mus !hos !a!speci ie !(so!i !can!be!in e ed! ha !i !has!a! ela ional!na u e)!and!a !LF!
i ! pe o ms! a! unc ion! composi ion! ela ing! he! speci ie ! o! he! complemen .! Gi en!
Cinque!(2010:!27),! he!exac !cha ac e iza ion!o ! he!head!in!(24)!is! he!one! ha !pe o ms!
indi ec !modi ica ion,!as! he!modi ie !hos ed!in!i s!speci ie !is! es ic i e,!in e sec i e!
and!in!p inciple!allows! o !bo h!s age=le el!and!indi idual=le el!in e p e a ions.!!See!
also!Cinque!(1999)! o ! he!se ies!o !FP!in! he! e bal!domain;!specially!chap e !3.!
!
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(35) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DP!
!
! D! NumP!
!el!
!Num!NP!
!colo i!
! N! PP!
! ! i!
! P! DP! ! !
!de! !
!sus!ojos!
In!con as !wi h! he!p e ious!s uc u e,!he e! he!PP!is!no !in oduced!as!a!
speci ie !o !a! unc ional!ca ego y,!bu !as!a!complemen !o ! he!p ope y=deno ing!
head!noun.!!This!di e ence!cap u es! he! ac ! ha !nouns!like!colo ! ake! he!PP!as!
an! a gumen ,! no ! as! a! acul a i e! modi ie ! in oduced! by! a! p ojec ion! o ! he!
adjec i al!domain.!!!
We! will! see! ha ! he! main! syn ac ic! di e ences! o ! he! s uc u e! ollow!
om! he!dis inc ion!be ween!a!PP!in oduced!as!a!speci ie !and!a!PP!in oduced!
as! a! complemen .! The! i s ! one! is! ha ! only! hose! nouns! ha ! selec ! o ! an!
a gumen !can! ake!pa !in! his!cons uc ion.!!We!ha e!seen! ha ! his!is!highly!
es ic ed! o! a! ew! nouns! (§2.1.),! some imes! wi h! idiosync a ic! di e ences! (as!
o !example! he! ac ! ha !nouns!deno ing!age!and! empe a u e!canno ! ake! hese!
complemen s).! ! All! he! o he ! nouns! lack! his! capaci y! and! in! hose! cases! he!
p eposi ional!modi ie s!ha e! o!be!in oduced!as!non!selec ed!cons i uen s,!as!
speci ie s!o !one!o ! he! unc ional!p ojec ions! ha !domina e! he!noun!ph ase.!!A!
c ucial!di e ence! ollows! om! his!base!s uc u e:! he!possesso s! ha !a e!inside!
speci ie s! emain! apped! he e!and!canno !be!ex ac ed.!Hence,! hey!a e!unable!
o! ake!pa !in! he!cons uc ion.!
3.4.!Explaining! he!con as !
Conside !now!how!ou !p oposal!explains! he!con as s!be ween!(36)!and!
(37).!In! he! i s !pai !o !examples!(36),!possessi e! ising!is!impossible!no!ma e !
wha ! he! in e nal! s uc u e! o ! he! PP! is.! In! he! iple ! o ! (37),! ising! is! only!
possible! when! unc ional! ma e ial! is! lacking! be ween! he! noun! and! he!
p eposi ion!( hus,!in!37b,!bu !no !in!37c).!
(36) a.!!el!sec e o!de!sus!ojos!
! he!sec e !o !he !eyes!
b.!*su!sec e o!de!ojos!/!!*el!sec e o!de!ojos!suyos!
!he !sec e !o !eyes!!!!/! he!sec e !o !eyes!he s!
(37) a.!!el!colo !de!sus!ojos!
! he!colou !o !he !eyes!
!
!
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b.!!su!colo !de!ojos!/!el!colo !de!ojos!suyos!
!he !colou !o !eyes!
c.!*su!colo !de!los!ojos!
!he !colou !o ! he!eyes!
The!g amma ical!and!ung amma ical!cons uc ions!can!be!explained!by!
an! in e ac ion! o ! he! need! o ! he! possessi e! o! check! [uD]! wi h! he! closes ! D!
head! and! he! posi ion! occupied! by! he! PP! wi h! espec ! o! he! head! noun.!
Conside ! i s !wha !happens!in! he!g amma ical!cons uc ion!in!(37b),!su,colo ,de,
ojos.!(38)! ep esen s! his!s uc u e:!
(38) !DP!
!
D! ! NP!
!
!NP! ! PP!
!colo !
! ! P! ! NumP!
! ! de!
!Num! ! XP!
! ! ! =s!
!!!!su(yo)s!! X!
!
! ! ! ! ! X! ! NP!
!!!!!!!ojo=s!
!
The!noun!wi h!which! he!possessi e!es ablishes!a! ela ion!is!con ained!
inside! a! unc ionally! de ec i e! s uc u e,! wi hou ! a! DP! ph ase! o ! i s! own.!
Howe e ,! he!PP!is!in oduced!as!a!complemen !o ! he!head!N!colo ,!which!is!
domina ed! by! a! ull! unc ional! sequence! (simpli ied! he e! o ! exposi o y!
con enience).!Gi en! ha ! he!possessi e!is!in! he!syn ac ic!domain!o ! he!D,!i !
can! es ablish! an! ag eemen ! ela ionship! wi h! his! elemen .! ! As! a! esul ,! his!
gi es! ise! o! he!sequence!in!(39a)!i ! he!possessi e! ises! o!spec!DP!and! o!(39b)!
i ! i ! emains! in! si u! and! checks! i s! ea u es! in! he! dis ance.! No ice! ha ! we!
assume! ha ! he! noun! is! always! ma e ialized! in! Num0! by! head! mo emen ,!
igge ing! he! o de ! in! which! i ! p ecedes! he! base! posi ion! o ! he! possessi e!
p onoun.!
(39) a.![DP![su]i!D0![NP!colo ![PP!de![NumP!ojojCs![XP![ i]!X0![NP! j]]]]]!
b.![DP!el![NP!colo ![PP!de![NumP!ojojCs![XP![suyo]!X0![NP! j]]]]]!! !
Conside ! now! wha ! happens! in! case! he! lowe ! NP! is! domina ed! by! a!
whole! unc ional!sequence.!In! his!si ua ion,!gi en!s anda d!assump ions!abou !
economy!and!locali y,! he!possessi e!mus !check!i s! ea u es!wi h! he!lowe !DP,!
which!is!hie a chically!close ! o!i !(40,!whe e,!again,!only! he! ele an !heads!a e!
ep esen ed).!!
!
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(40) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!DP!
!
D! NP!
el!
! N! ! PP! !
!colo !
! ! P! ! !!DP!
! ! de!
! ! ! D! ! NumP!
!!!los! ! ! !
!!!!Num! ! !!XP!
!!!!ojo=s!
!!!!!su(yo)=s! !!X!
!
!!!!!!X!!NP! ! !
He e,!i ! he!possessi e!mo es! o! he!spec!o ! he!lowe !DP,!we!ob ain!(41a);!
i !i ! emains!in!si u!we!ge !(41b).!!(41c)!is! eminiscen !o !supe = aising!when! he!
possesso !mo es!up! he!s uc u e;!(41d),!also!ung amma ical,!is!a! iola ion!o !
Rela i ized! Minimali y! wi hou ! mo emen :! he! long=dis ance! dependency!
known!as!ag eemen ! is! pe o med!wi h!a!highe !head! (colo )!when! he e!is!a!
pe ec ly! accep able! lowe ! candida e! (ojos)! ha ! could! pe o m! he! same!
ag eemen .!!!
(41) a.!el!colo !de!sus!ojos!
! he!colou !o !he !eyes!
b.!!el!colo !de!los!ojos!suyos!
! he!colou !o ! he!eyes!he s.pl! !
c.!*su!colo !de!los!ojos! ! ! ! ! ! !
!he !colou !o ! he!eyes!
d.!*el!colo !de!los!ojos!suyo!
! he!colou !o ! he!eyes!he s.sg!
Finally,! we! conside ! wha ! happens! when! he! PP! is! a! speci ie ! o ! a!
unc ional!p ojec ion,!as!in!el,sec e o,de,sus,ojos!(‘ he!sec e !o !he !eyes’).!Gi en!
he! Condi ion! on! Ex ac ion! Domains! (Huang! 1982),! an! elemen ! canno ! be!
ex ac ed!o !en e !in o!a! o mal! ela ionship!wi h!an!elemen ! om!ou side! he!
speci ie !whe e!i !is!embedded.!Mo e! ecen ly,!U iage eka’s!Mul iple!Spell!Ou !
app oach! (U iage eka! 1999)! analyses! his! as! an! ins ance! o ! syn ac ic! phase!
de ined,!as!such,!a ! he!poin !in!which! he!complex!speci ie !is!me ged!as!one!
single!uni !wi h! he!spine!o ! he! ee.!!
I ! he!possessi e!is!inside!a!speci ie ,!i !will!no !be!able! o!check!i s![uD]!
ea u e!wi h!a!ex e nal!DP;!only!when! he e!is!an!in e nal!DP!can! he!possessi e!
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sa is y! i s! ea u es.! ! In! he! case! in! (36a),! his! does! no ! p oduce! a! p oblem,!
because! he e!is!a!DP!inside! he!speci ie !PP!(42).!The!discon inuous!line!ma ks!
he!phase!whe e! he!possessi e!can!check!i s! ea u es.!
(42) !DP!
!
D!!!!FP!
el!
!PP!!!!!!!F!
!
P! ! DP! ! ! F! ! NP!
de!!!!!!!sec e o!
! D! ! XP!
!los!
! ! su(yo)s!! !!X!
! ! [uD]!
! ! ! X! ! ojo!! !
The!ung amma icali y!o ! he! wo!examples!in!(36b)!is!due! o! he!absence!
o !a!DP!in e nal! o! he!PP!speci ie ,!so! he!possessi e!has!no !sa is ied! he![uD]!
inside!and,!being!embedded!in!a!speci ie ,!i !canno !es ablish!checking! ela ions!
wi h!ex e nal!elemen s!o !unde go!mo emen .!!
(43) !DP!
!
D!!!!FP!
el!
!PP!!!!!!F!
!
P! ! XP! ! !F! ! NP!
de!!!!!!sec e o!
!*su(yo)s! X!
![uD]!
! ! X! ! NP! !
!!!!ojos!
Conside ! now! he! di e ences! wi h! ising! in! he! e bal! domain.! The!
c ucial!di e ence!is! ha ! he!landing!si e!o !mo emen !in!a! ising! e b!is!spec:!
TP,!a! posi ion! ha !in! English!(and!p obably!also!in!Spanish)!has! o! be! illed,!
compulso ily,!by!a!cons i uen .!!In!con as ,! he!landing!si e!o !mo emen !in!a!
ising!possesso !is!spec:!DP,!a!posi ion!which!bo h!in!English!and!Spanish!does!
no ! need! o! be! illed! by! an! elemen .! The! immedia e! consequence! is! ha ! in! a!
language! wi h! o e ! exple i e! p onouns,! like! English,! when! he! cons i uen !
ag ees! wi h! T! bu ! does! no ! mo e! o! i s! speci ie ,! such! p onouns! ha e! o! be!
inse ed!in! he!s uc u e!(gi ing! ise! o!well!know!con as s,!such!as!The e,seems,
o,be,a,man,in, he, oom! s.!A,man,seems, o,be,in, he, oom).!The!use!o !exple i es,!
howe e ,! is! no ! necessa y! in! ou ! cons uc ion! (by! Minimalis ! assump ions,!
impossible),!as! he!posi ion!o !spec,!DP,!does!no !need! o!be!p ojec ed.!!!

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3.5.!Re ining!mo emen :!i s! igge !and!i s!landing!si e!
As!we!ha e!seen!(§3.3.!and!§3.4)! he!possesso !mus ! ind!a!D!head!in!i s!
domain,!bu !ag eemen !wi h!i !can!be!pe o med!in!si u,!wi hou !mo emen .!As!
he!examples!in!(44)! emind!us,! he!possesso !can!su ace!in! he!absolu e! inal!
posi ion!o ! he!DP!phase!(44a)!o !in! on !o ! he! i s !noun!(44b).!
(44) a.!el!colo !de!ojos!suyo!
! he!colou !o !eyes!he s.sg.!
b.!su!colo !de!ojos!
!he !colou !o !eyes!
This!con as !b ings!up! wo!immedia e!ques ions:!1)!wha !is! he! igge !o !
his!mo emen ?!and!2)!wha !is! he!speci ic!posi ion!whe e! he!possesso !mo es?!!
In! answe ing! hese! wo! ques ions! we! will! explici ly! add ess! one! di e ence!
be ween! he! ising!possesso !and!subjec = aising.!
The!di e ence!be ween!(44a)!and!(44b)!has! o!do!wi h! he!in o ma ional!
s uc u e!o ! he! sen ence.!Being!in!absolu e! inal!posi ion!o ! he!sen ence,! he!
possesso !in!(44a)!is!in e p e ed!as!con as i e! ocus!(Cinque!1993,!Zubiza e a!
1998).!This!can!be!shown!easily!by! he!sen ence!in!(45).!
(45) Me!gus a!el!colo !de!ojos!suyo,!no!el! uyo!
Me.da !likes! he!colou !o !eyes!he s,!no ! he!you s!
‘I!like!HER!colou !o !eyes,!no !you s’!
In!con as ,! he!possesso !in!(44b)!is!in e p e ed!as! he!(non=con as i e)!
opic.!The! e e en !o ! he!possesso !mus !ha e!been!p e iously!ac i a ed!in! he!
p eceden !discou se,!wi h! he! esul ! ha !i ! ejec s!con as i e!u e ances!(46).!
(46) #Me!gus a!su!colo !de!ojos,!no!el! uyo!
Me.da !likes!he !colou !o !eyes,!no ! he!you s!
#‘I!like!he !colou !o !eyes,!no !you s’!
This! sugges s! ha ! mo emen ,! when! i ! does! ake! place,! is! igge ed! by!
in o ma ion!s uc u e! equi emen s;!bu ! o!which!posi ion!exac ly?!!The!Spanish!
da a,! whe e! he! possesso ! is! no ! compa ible! wi h! he! de ini e! a icle,! a e! no !
e y!in o ma i e.!In!con as ,!howe e ,!a!language!like!Po uguese!(o !I alian)!
can! h ow! ligh ! on! his! issue.! Conside ! equi alen ! Po uguese! and! I alian!
examples.9!!
(47) a.!!a!sua!co !de!olhos!(Eu opean!Po uguese)!
! he!he !colou !o !eyes!
b.!il!suo!colo e!di!capelli!(S anda d!I alian)!
! he!he !colou !o !hai !
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
9!We!a e! e y!g a e ul! o!an!anonymous! e iewe ! o !poin ing! his!ou ! o!us!and!
o ! he!Po uguese!example.!!
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The! ac ! ha ! he!possesso ! ollows! he!de e mine !shows! ha !i !does!no !
mo e! o! he!highe !posi ion!inside! he!D!s uc u e.!!
Ou !p oposal!is! he! ollowing:!i !we! ea ! he!de e mine !domain!abo e!
nouns!as!being!pa allel! o! he!complemen ize !domain!abo e! e bs,!we!expec !
D! o!be!decomposed!in!a!numbe !o !designa ed!posi ions,!jus !like!C!has!been!
(Rizzi!1997).!!We!can! ea ! he!de ini e!de e mine !as! he!nominal!equi alen !o !
Fo ceP.!!To! he!same! ex en ! ha ! Fo ceP! de ines! he!illocu iona y! o ce!o ! he!
sen ence!and!allows! o!connec ! he!u e ance! o! he!con ex !and! o! he!in en ions!
o ! speake s,! he! highe ! de e mine ! p o ides! speake s! wi h! in o ma ion! abou !
e e en iali y,!de ini eness,!and!e en!speci ici y,!e c.!!In!Rizzi’s!model,! he e!is!a!
opic! posi ion! (TopP)! immedia ely! below! Fo ceP.! ! We! can! assume! ha ! his!
posi ion!has!an!equi alen !in! he!nominal!domain!and! ha ! he!possesso !mo es!
he e!on! he!su ace.!
(48) [DP!a![TopP![sua]i!Top0…[NP!co ![PP!… i…]]]]!! !
Consequen ly,! ou ! p oposal! is! in! line! wi h! he! analyses! ha ! ha e!
p oposed! ocus! and! opic! posi ions! in e nal! o! he! DP! (c .! Be ns ein! 1997,!
Haegeman!2004,!Aboh!2004).!
The!di e ence!be ween!I alian!/!Po uguese,!on!one!side,!and!Spanish,!on!
he!o he ,!is! ha ! he!la e !does!no !allow! he!possessi e!and! he!de ini e!a icle!
o!coexis .!We!p o isionally!sugges ! ha ! his!is!a!mo pho=phonological!e ec .!
The!possesso !in!Spanish!can!be! spelled!ou !wi h! he!highe !DP,!in! a!case!o !
cumula i e! exponence! (S ump! 1998)! ha ! uses! a! single! lexeme! o! ma e ialize!
se e al!se s!o ! ea u es.!!In!con as ,! he!spell!ou ! equisi es!o ! he!possesso !in!
I alian!and!Po uguese!would!no !allow! his.!!
As! a !as!we!can! ell,! he e!is!no! eason! o !mo emen !o ! he!possesso ! o!
TopP! o! ha e! in e media e! landing! si es.! ! Remembe ,! o ! ou ! p oposal! i ! is!
c ucial! ha ! he!de e mine !and! he!possesso !a e!inside! he!same!Phase,!so!no!
edge!posi ion!is!necessa y! o !any!ex ac ion.!!
A ! his!poin !we!a e!in!a!posi ion! o!explain!one!di e ence!wi h! espec ! o!
subjec = aising.!In!subjec = aising,! he!landing!si e!o ! he!subjec !is!a! unc ional!
p ojec ion! necessa y! o ! he! s uc u e! o ! he! clause.! ! In! con as ,! no ! all!
u e ances!mus !ha e!a! opic,!so! his!posi ion!is!no !compulso y.!!F om!he e,!i !
ollows!a!di e ence! ha !ce ainly! eade s!ha e!al eady! hough !o :!in!subjec =
aising!con ex s,!when! he!embedded!subjec ! emains!in!si u,!an!exple i e!has! o!
be!in oduced!in! he!posi ion!whe e!i !would!ha e!landed!(49).!By!con as ,!in!
he!cons uc ion! ha !we!a e!s udying,! he e!is!no!e idence!o !an!exple i e!in! he!
landing! posi ion! (50,! om! English).! In! he! absence! o ! e idence! o ! a! silen !
exple i e,!we!will!assume! he!exple i e!is!no !p esen .!This!is!explained!i ! he!
posi ion! a ge ed! by! subjec = aising! is! compulso y! p ojec ed,! bu ! no ! he! one!
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Rising!possesso s!in!Spanish!
a ge ed!by! he! ising!possesso ,!which!will!be!p ojec ed!o !no !depending!on!
he!in ended!in o ma ion!s uc u e.!
(49) I !seems! ha !John!is!sad.!
(50) he!da e!o !his!bi h!!
Gi en! hese! di e ences! we! ha e! e ained! om! using! he! e m!
‘possesso = aising’! in! his! pape ,! as! i ! would! sugges ! some! compulso y!
a ac ion!o ! he!possesso !by!a!needy!highe !head!which!always!mus !sa is y!
some! equi emen .!
3.6.!Inalienable!possession!
We! ha e! seen! ha ! he! cons uc ion! is! es ic ed! o! cases! whe e! he!
possessi e! ei he ! is! an! a gumen ! o ! a! complex! e en ! noun! o ! es ablishes! an!
inalienable!possession! ela ion!wi h! he!low!noun,!bu !we!ha e!no !explained!
why.!In! his!sec ion!we!will!a gue! ha ! his! es ic ion! ollows! om! he! ac ! ha !
he! unc ional!sequence!o ! he!lowe !noun!is!se e ely!impo e ished.!
Ou !p oposal!is! ha ,!gi en! ha ! he!AP!a ea!o ! he!lowe !noun!mus !be!
absen ! om! he! s uc u e,! he! modi ie ! posi ion! whe e! non! a gumen al!
possesso s!can!be!in oduced!is!no !a ailable.!!As!only! he!p ojec ions!inside! he!
noun! a ea! and! Numbe P! su i e,! he! only! a ailable! posi ion! ha ! can! be!
occupied!by! he!possesso !he e!is! he!speci ie !o ! he!nominal!head!nP,!whe e!i !
mus !be!in e p e ed!as!an!a gumen !o ! he!noun.!!(51)! ep esen s! he!s uc u e!o !
a! cons uc ion! wi h! a! non! a gumen al! possesso .! He e! he! possesso ! is!
in oduced!as!a!non!compulso y!modi ie !o ! he!noun!coche,!‘ca ’.!
(51) !FP!
!
su(yo)! ! F!
!
! F! ! nP!
!!!coche!‘ca ’!
The!p oblem!is! ha !FP!canno !appea !in! he!cons uc ion!unde !s udy,!
because! he! lowe ! s uc u e! is! impo e ished.! Thus,! he! possesso ! has! o! be!
in oduced!in!a!p ojec ion!belonging! o! he!nominal!domain.!We!p opose! ha !
he! p ojec ion! is! nP,! he! highe ! o ! he! noun! a ea! heads! which! in oduces! he!
index! o ! iden i y! o ! he! noun! (Bake ! 2003;! see! Rad o d! 2000! o ! he! same!
p oposal!abou !a gumen al!posi ions)!(52).!
(52) !nP!
!
su(yo)! ! n!
!
! n! ! NP!
! ! ! !
!
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In! his!posi ion,! he!cons i uen !mus !be!in e p e ed!as!an!a gumen !o !
he! noun.! The e o e,! only! nouns! ha ! con ain! a gumen s,! like! complex! e en !
nominals,!will!be!able! o!hos ! ha !kind!o !cons i uen !in! he!speci ie !o !nP.!!
Conside ! now! inalienable! possesso s.! Ou ! p oposal! is! ha ! inalienable!
possesso s!a e!in e p e ed!as!pseudo=a gumen s!o ! he!head!noun,!much!in! he!
way! ha ! he!possesso s!can!be!in e p e ed!as!a gumen s!o !a!de i ed!noun!(see!
also! Ve gnaud! &! Zubiza e a! 1992! ega ding! F ench).! ! Nouns! ha ! ake!
inalienable!possesso s!can!be!g ouped!in o!seman ic!classes,!as!we!ha e!seen.!!
Wha ! hey!all!ha e!in!common!is! ha !in!o de ! o!ha e!a!comple e!meaning,! hey!
mus !be!in e p e ed!in! ela ion! o!some!o he !en i y!( he!possesso ),!o !which!
hey! a e! pa ! o ,! al e na i ely,! o ! whose! pe sonal! sphe e! hey! a e! pa .! ! We!
sugges ! ha ! he!posi ion! o! in oduce! inalienable!possesso s!is!spec!nP.!Only!
some! nouns,! hose! speci ied! in! he! lexicon! as! being! inalienable! possession!
nouns,!can!assign!an!in e p e a ion! o!an!a gumen !in oduced!in! his!posi ion.10!!!!
F om! his! pe spec i e,! hen,! he! equisi e! on! inalienable! possession! is!
imposed!by! he! ac ! ha ! he!modi ie !in oducing!p ojec ions!(belonging! o! he!
AP! a ea)! is! una ailable,! and! only! he! p ojec ion! ha ! hos s! he! a gumen s! o !
complex! e en ! nouns! and! he! pseudo=a gumen s! o ! inalienable! possession!
nouns,!nP,!is!a ailable!he e.!
The! ques ion! emains! as! o! why! English! and! Spanish! con as ! wi h!
espec ! o! his!cons uc ion.!When! he!possesso !is! he!a gumen !o !a!complex!
e en ! noun! (pai ! 53),! English! and! Spanish! equally! accep ! he! cons uc ion;!
howe e ,! wi h! inalienable! possession,! hey! di e :! Spanish! allows! i ! (54a),!
English! ejec s!i !(54b).!
(53) a.!!su!luga !de!nacimien o!
b.!!he !place!o !bi h!
(54) a.!!su!colo !de!ojos!
b.!!he !colou !o !eyes!
The!answe !can!be! ela ed! o! he! ac ! ha !English!does!no !beha e!like!
Spanish!o !F ench!wi h! espec ! o!inalienable!possession!nouns.!As!no iced!by!
Ve gnaud!&!Zubiza e a!(1992),!English!does!no !allow!a! oken= eading!o !an!
inalienable!possession!noun!in!da i e!possesso !cons uc ions!(c .! he!con as !in!
55,!whe e!55a!is!ou !own!example!and!55b!is!Ve gnaud!&!Zubiza e a’s!93a).!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
10!The! impossibili y! o ! hos ing! exple i es! in! nominaliza ions! ollows! om! he!
equisi e! ha !any!cons i uen !me ged!in!spec,!nP!mus !be!in e p e ed!as!an!a gumen !
o ! he!noun.!No ice! ha !pu suing! his!line!o !analysis!could!also!explain! he!absence!o !
ECM!s uc u es!in!nominaliza ions!(con as s!such!as!John,conside ed,Pe e ,a,genious! s.!
*John’s, conside a ion,o , Pe e , as, a,genious),! o! he! ex en ! ha ! he! a gumen ! in oduced!
wi h!!”o ”!would!ha e! o!be!in e p e ed!as!an!a gumen !o !conside a ion,!which!is!a !
odds!wi h! he!concep ual!seman ics!o ! ha !lexical!i em.!
!
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h p://www.si .us.es/ibe ia/index.php/ij/index!ISSN!1989=8525!
32!
Rising!possesso s!in!Spanish!
been,!which!we!ha e!le !ou side!he e,!an!in=de ail!compa ison!o !Spanish!wi h!
o he ! languages,! including! English,! o! de e mine! how! his! s uc u e! is!
ins an ia ed! in! o he ! g amma s! and! wha ! causes! he! ung amma icali y! o ! he!
s uc u e!in! languages!like!English.!!Despi e! he!sugges ions!made! in!§4,! his!
p oblem!is!s ill!open.!!Ano he !ques ion! ha !we!had! o!lea e!open!is!whe he !
he!same!ope a ions!in ol ed!he e,!and! he!same! unc ional!impo e ishmen !o !
an! a gumen ! o ! he! head,! can! be! used! o! analyze! he! well=known! adjec i al!
cons uc ion!in!(69):!
(69) Juan!(es)!ancho!de!homb os!!
Juan!(is)!wide!o !shoulde s!
The! noun! in oduced! by! he! PP! (compulso ily! de)! is! also! unc ionally!
educed!and!disallows!all!kinds!o !modi ie s,!quan i ie s!and!de e mine s!wi h!
he!sole!excep ion!o ! he!plu al!ma ke .!!The!subjec !o ! he!s uc u e,!Juan,!mus !
hold!an!inalienable!possession! ela ion!wi h! he!lowe !noun!he e!also.!I !would!
be! emp ing! o! ex end! ou ! analysis! o! hese! cases,! p oposing! ha ! he! subjec !
s a s! as! an! inalienable! possesso ! o ! he! lowe ! noun! and! is! a ac ed! by! he!
adjec i al! p ojec ion! o! ul ill! he! subjec ! unc ion.! ! Howe e ,! his! p oposal!
would!ha e! o!be!de eloped! in! de ail.! ! This!ex ension!will!be!le ! o ! u he !
esea ch.!!
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Recep ion!da e/Fecha!de! ecepción/Da a!de! ecepção:!14/11/2010!
Re ision!da e/Fecha!de! e isión/Da a!de! e isão:!17/05/2011!
Accep a ion!da e/Fecha!de!acep ación/Da a!de!acei ação:!17/05/2011!
!
An onio!Fáb egas!
[email p o ec ed]!
Uni e si e e !i!T omsø! !