Spatial expressions with implicit (and overt) arguments

Abstract Implicit arguments in the prepositional domain are a lesser-studied context of NULL or NOTHING, yet much like in the inflectional and verbal domains, micro-variation within Romance reveals different types of implicit arguments and illuminates properties of the structures within which they are licensed. This chapter focuses on the null pronouns of orphan prepositions in French and Spanish and scrutinizes their licensing through the lens of a three-way typology of spatial expressions. It is shown that French and Spanish converge in more ways than they differ in terms of orphaning, and that the typology of spatial expressions is highly predictive for the licensing of null pronouns.