Unexpected Case Assignment and Preposition Doubling in Pronoun Coordination in Spanish

Authors

Carlos Gonzalex-Vergara, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Hernan Labbe G., Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Abstract

The following paper is based on the observation of two related phenomena in Spanish. First, when two personal pronouns acting as prepositional objects are coordinated, they are usually constructed by repeating the preposition before each member of the coordination. Secondly, when this does not happen, the second member of the coordination does not appear in oblique case (which would be expected to happen through government), but it appears in nominative case. This can be clearly appreciated in the coordination of pronouns that display morphological case. The purpose of this paper is to explain these phenomena within the Minimalist Program. The conclusions suggest that the irregular case of the second member of the coordination can be explained by Johannessenn’s structure for coordination (1996) and default case valuation principle (2008), while the duplication of the preposition can be accounted for through reasons of economy.

Recommended Citation

Gonzalex-Vergara, Carlos and Labbe G., Hernan (2010) "Unexpected Case Assignment and Preposition Doubling in Pronoun Coordination in Spanish," International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest: Vol. 29: No. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/ijlasw/vol29/iss2/4