The “PRO-N” clitic en / ne and the theory of cliticization

Abstract

The Romance pro-N clitic (Fr., Cat.) en / (It.) ne is problematic for most theories of cliticization,because some phenomena support a movement analysis, while others seem to speak against movement.Endorsing the view that the pro-N clitic is the result of movement, this paper1 argues that the problems of thisanalysis can be solved by assuming that this clitic does not represent an N or NP, but rather a functional headintermediate between D/Q and N (probably Num), whose complement is empty after the DP-phase iscompleted. Consequently, I propose that the theory of cliticization should be modified in order to allow“dynamic minimality”: only minimal elements may cliticize, but non-minimal elements may become minimalin the course of the derivation, if their complement has a null spell-out.

Keywords

• clitics
• nominal ellipsis
• DP syntax
• X0-status
• Romance