The role of abstract and morphological Cases in syntactic computation

本研究考察了本族语使用者在两种不同的语言类型(一种使用形态格(如日语)，另一种使用抽象格系统(如英语))中关于格的先天语言知识。重点放在格在句法计算中的作用：这两个不同的格系统如何在句法中发挥作用？通过对双及物句和“双宾语结构”的分析，阐明了两类格在核心计算中的作用：在有明显格实现的语言中，有一个“退化”与格标记，它不足以许可目标论元上的格(合并为动词中心语的姊妹)，必须向更高的位置移动以获得T的格许可。在没有形态格标记的语言中，从一开始就不存在这样的退化格标记，从而不会诱导格驱动的移动，所有的VP内部论元在它们最初合并的位置上被许可。

This research project investigated the native speaker's innate linguistic knowledge on Case in two distinct types of languages (one employs morphological Case (e.g., Japanese), and the other employing abstract Case system (e.g., English)). The focus was on the role of Case in syntactic computation: How do the two different Case systems play a role in syntax? Through the analysis of ditransitive sentences and the so-called the "Double-Object Construction," the role of two kinds of Cases in core computation was clarified: The languages with overt morphological realization of Case are equipped with a "degenerate" dative marker, which is insufficient to license Case on the goal argument (merged as sister of the verbal head), undergoing obligatory movement to a higher position to have its Case licensed by T. In the languages without morphological Case markers, no such degenerate Case markers exist to begin with, thereby no Case-driven movement is induced and all the VP-internal arguments are licensed in a position where they are initially merged.