Linguistic Inquiry
Spring 2008, Vol. 39, No. 2, Pages 307-326
(doi: 10.1162/ling.2008.39.2.307)
Quantificational Null Objects and Argument Ellipsis
Article PDF (108.59 KB)
Abstract
This article provides a new argument for the analysis of null arguments in terms of ellipsis by considering null objects that behave like quantifiers. It is shown that the presence of quantificational null objects and their scopal property are difficult to accommodate under the traditional view of null arguments as pronouns but are best accounted for by the ellipsis analysis. Among the consequences of the present study are the need to postulate phonetically invisible/inaudible scrambling and its obedience to the economy requirement.