Pertsona murriztapenak ditu egitura inpertsonalak: euskararen kasua

Abstract

In this paper we explore the person restrictions that the impersonal construction presents: the person condition of the external argument and the person restriction on the internal argument. We propose that the external argument of the impersonal is a silent pronoun of DP category (pro) that must be interpreted as [+human]. This argument is located at the specifier of Voice. Additionally, we also argue that Voice is defective in impersonals and that this explains the restricted case and agreement relations of the construction. Since Voice is defective, both the external and the internal arguments must Agree with T(ense), which causes the person restriction on the internal argument.

Keywords

• basque
• impersonals
• implicit arguments
• person restrictions