The role of abstract and morphological Cases in syntactic computation

本研究调查了母语者在两种不同类型的语言中对格的先天语言知识（一种使用形态格（例如，日语），另一种采用抽象的案例系统（例如，英文））。重点是格在句法计算中的作用：两种不同的格系统如何在句法中发挥作用？通过对双及物句和所谓的“双宾结构”的分析，阐明了两类格在核心计算中的作用：具有格的显性形态实现的语言配备了一个“退化”与格标记，这不足以在目标论元上许可格（合并为妹妹的口头头），进行强制性的运动，以更高的位置，有其情况下，由T。在没有形态格标记的语言中，不存在这样的退化格标记开始，因此不诱导格驱动的移动，并且所有VP内部论元都被许可在它们最初合并的位置。

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.