Spanish VN compounds and the source of valued gender and number features
Abstract
Abstract While our current linguistic theories predict that zero elements should exist, sometimes null heads are posited in contexts which have properties that are incompatible with how we expect zeroes to behave. In this article, I provide an analysis of apparent gender and number mismatches involving VN compounds, and some similar prefixed words, and I argue that positing a null nominal for such cases makes the wrong empirical predictions. Instead, I show how adopting a matching theory of agreement and taking seriously the licensing conditions of predicates derives the attested facts without the need to posit a null nominal head or nominaliser.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Syntax
Semantics
Linguistic Variation
Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies
Language Development and Disorders
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Linguistik aktuell
- Pages
- 27–56
- Publication date
- 27 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter