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!
De e mine s!and! ela i e!clauses!
Paola!Benincà!
[email p o ec ed]!
Uni e si y-o -Padua-
DOI! o!be!assigned!
!
Abs ac :!In! he! p esen ! pape ,! I! conside ! i s ! he! beha iou ! o ! singula !
coun !nouns,!showing! ha ,!in! he!limi ed!se !o !con ex s!in!which! hey!a e!
ound,! a! speci ic! kind! o ! modi ica ion! is! in! many! cases! necessa y.! The!
modi ica ion!is! ep esen ed!by!a! a ian !o !a!kind!de ining! ela i e!clause.!I!
b ie ly! ou line! he! main! syn ac ic! and! seman ic! cha ac e is ics! o ! kind>
de ining! ela i es;!I! hen!conside !ba e!plu al!coun !nouns!and!singula !mass!
nouns;!I!use! he!Le !Disloca ion!cons uc ion!as!a! es ! ha !pe mi s!us! o!
explo e! he!composi ion!o ! he!DP,!and! o!localise! he!posi ion!o !a!silen !
ope a o .! I! show! ha ,! in! his! con ex ! oo,! he! modi ie s! ha ! pe mi ! he!
de e mine ! o!be!omi ed!can!be!seman ically!in e p e ed!as!co esponding!
o! a! kind>de ining! ela i e.! Finally,! I! examine! he! so>called! pa i i e! DPs!
in oduced!by!di+a icle,!which!a e!o en!conside ed!in! he!li e a u e! o!be!
seman ically! equi alen ! o! ba e! nouns,! and! I! show! ha ! hey! a e! ins ead!
di e en ,!bo h!seman ically!and!syn ac ically;!inciden ally,! his!pe mi s!us! o!
poin !ou !a!minimal!di e ence!be ween!F ench!and!I alian.!
Keywo ds:-Ba e-nouns,-kind7de ining- ela i e-clauses,-silen -quan i ie s.--
Resumen:!En! el! p esen e! a ículo! se! a a! p ime o! el! compo amien o! de!
sus an i os!singula es!con ables!y!se!mues a!que!en!el!conjun o!limi ado!de!
con ex os! en! que! es os! apa ecen,! una! clase! de! modi icación! especí ica! es!
necesa ia!en!muchos!casos.!Es a!modi icación!se! ep esen a!median e!una!
a ian e! de! cláusula! ela i a! de inido a.! T as! b e emen e! pe ila se! las!
p incipales! ca ac e ís icas! sin ác icas! y! semán icas! de! las! ela i as!
de inido as,! se! abo dan! los! sus an i os! plu ales! con ables! escue os! y! los!
sus an i os! no! con ables! singula es.! La! cons ucción! de! dislocación! a! la!
izquie da!se!u iliza!como!diagnós ico!pa a!la!explo ación!de!la!composición!
del!SD,!así!como!pa a!la!localización!de!la!posición!del!ope ado !nulo.!Se!
mues a!que,! ambién!en!es e!con ex o,!los!modi icado es!que!pe mi en!la!
omisión!del!de e minan e!pueden! ecibi !la!in e p e ación!semán ica!de!una!
ela i a! es ic i a.!Finalmen e!se!examinan!las!es uc u as!conocidas!como!
SDs! pa i i os! in oducidos! po ! di+a ículo,! que! han! sido! ecuen emen e!
conside adas! en! la! bibliog a ía! como! semán icamen e! equi alen es! a!
sus an i os!desnudos,!y!se!mues a!que!en! ealidad!son!di e en es,! an o!en!
el!plano!semán ico!como!en!el!sin ác ico.!Además,!es o!nos!pe mi e!señala !
una!mínima!di e encia!en e!el! ancés!y!el!i aliano.!!!
Palab as- cla e:!Sus an i os- escue os,- cláusulas- de- ela i o- de inido as,-
cuan i icado es-nulos.-
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Resumen:!No! p esen e! a igo,! conside o! p imei o! o! compo amen o! de!
nomes! con á eis! singula es,! demons ando!que,! no! núme o! limi ado! de!
con ex os!em!que!su gem,!um! ipo!especí ico!de!modi icação!é,!em!mui os!
casos,!necessá io.!A!modi icação!é! ep esen ada!po !uma! a ian e!de!uma!
o ação! ela i a! de! ipo! es i i o.! Ap esen o! b e emen e! as! p incipais!
ca a e ís icas! sin á icas! e! semân icas! das! ela i as! de! ipo! es i i o;!
conside o,!em!seguida,!nomes!simples!con á eis!plu ais!e!nomes!massi os!
singula es;!uso!a!cons ução!da!deslocação!à!esque da!como!um! es e!que!
nos! pe mi e! explo a ! a! composição! do! DP! e! localiza ! a! posição! de! um!
ope ado ! silencioso.! Demons o! que,! ambém! nes e! con ex o,! os!
modi icado es! que! pe mi em! que! o! de e minan e! seja! omi ido! podem! se !
seman icamen e!in e p e ados!como!co espondendo!a!uma! ela i a!de! ipo!
es i i o.! Finalmen e,! examino! os! chamados! DPs! pa i i os! in oduzidos!
po ! di+a igo,! que! são! equen emen e! conside ados! na! li e a u a! como!
sendo! seman icamen e! equi alen es! aos!nomes! simples,! e!demons o! que,!
pelo! con á io,! eles! são! di e en es,! que ! semân ica! que ! sin a icamen e;!
inciden almen e,! al!pe mi e>nos!des aca !a!di e ença!mínima!en e!o! ancês!
e!o!i aliano.!!
Pala as5cha e:-Nomes- simples,-o ações- ela i as- de- ipo- es i i o,-
quan i icado es-silenciosos.!
1.!In oduc ion!
In! his! pape 1! I! wan ! o! go! deepe ! in o! a! subjec ! ha ! I! ouched! upon!
many!yea s!ago!(Benincà!1980),!and!which!has! ecen ly!become!clea e ! o!me!
while!s udying!an!appa en ly!un ela ed! opic.!!
In! he!old!a icle!I!had!s udied!some!aspec s!o ! he!beha iou !o !ba e!
nouns!in!I alian,!showing! ha !in!some!con ex s,!namely!when! he!noun!was!
accompanied!by!a!modi ie ,!i !was!possible! o!ha e!a!ze o!de e mine ;!I!a gued!
ha ! his!was!possible!because!a!null!ope a o !was!inse ed!in! he!appa en ly!
emp y!posi ion.!
The!modi ie s! ha ! igge ed! his!p ocess!we e!lis ed,!bu ! he! eason! o !
why!p ecisely! hose!elemen s!we e!in ol ed! emained!obscu e.!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
1!I!wan ! o!dedica e! his!pape ! o!And ew,! o!exp ess!my!old!a ec ion!and!my!
admi a ion! o ! he!wonde ul!wo k!he!has!been!doing!in!linguis ics!since!I!me !him!
many!yea s!ago.!In!pa icula ,! he!subjec !I!ha e!chosen! o ! his!pape !in ends! o! ell!
And ew! ha !I! ind!any!page!he!has!w i en!abou ! ela i e!clauses!among! he!mos !
clea ,!pene a ing,! hough >p o oking! ha !I!ha e!e e ! ead!on! his! ascina ing! opic.!!
I! hank!Guglielmo!Cinque,!Nicola!Muna o!and!Ch is ina!To o a! o !commen s!
and!sugges ions.!
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S udying!a!pa icula ! ype!o ! ela i e!clause,! he!kind>de ining! ela i es!
(de ini o ie-in!I alian:!see!Benincà!2012,!Benincà!&!Cinque! o hcoming),!I!ha e!
ealised! ha ! he! modi ie s! licensing! an! ope a o ! in! place! o ! he! missing!
de e mine ! all! seman ically! co espond! p ecisely! o! a! kind>de ining! ela i e!
clause.!!
In! he!p esen !pape ,!I!will! i s !illus a e! he!con ex s! ha !license!a!null!
de e mine !in!I alian,!dis inguishing! he! a ious!cases;!I!will!conside ! i s ! he!
beha iou !o !singula !coun !nouns,!showing! ha ,!in! he!limi ed!se !o !con ex s!
in! which! hey! a e! ound,! a! speci ic! kind! o ! modi ica ion! is! in! many! cases!
necessa y.! The! modi ica ion! is! ep esen ed! by! a! a ian ! o ! a! kind! de ining!
ela i e!clause.!!
I!will! hen!b ie ly!ou line! he!main!syn ac ic!and!seman ic!cha ac e is ics!
o !kind>de ining! ela i es,!in!pa icula !in!pos >copula ! ela i e!clauses;!I!will!
hen!conside !ba e!plu al!coun !nouns!and!singula !mass!nouns;!I!will!use! he!
Le ! Disloca ion! cons uc ion! as! a! es ! ha ! pe mi s! us! o! explo e! he!
composi ion! o ! he! DP! wi h! and! wi hou ! a! de ini e! a icle,! and! localise! he!
posi ion!o !a!silen !ope a o .!I!will!show! ha ,!in! his!con ex ! oo,! he!modi ie s!
ha ! pe mi ! he! de e mine ! o! be! omi ed! can! be! seman ically! in e p e ed! as!
co esponding! o!a!kind>de ining! ela i e.!!
The!so>called!pa i i e!DPs!in oduced!by!di+a icle!a e!o en!conside ed!
in! he!li e a u e! o!be!seman ically!equi alen ! o!ba e!nouns.!I!will!show! ha !
hey!a e!ins ead!di e en ,!bo h!seman ically!and!syn ac ically;! his!will!pe mi !
us! o! poin ! ou ! wha ! seems! o! be! a! minimal! di e ence! be ween! F ench! and!
I alian,!in! his! espec .!!!
1.1.!De e mine less!singula !coun !nouns!
Ba e! nouns! ha e! limi a ions,! which! a e! less! s ong! wi h! plu al! coun !
nouns! and! singula ! mass! nouns! han! wi h! singula ! coun ! nouns,! as! he!
ollowing!examples!show:!in!(1)!we!ha e!ba e!nouns!in!di ec !objec !posi ion,!
and! in! (2)! subjec s! o ! unaccusa i e! e bs;! in! pa allel! con ex s,! ba e! coun !
singula !nouns!a e!impossible!(1c)!and!(2c):!!
(1)!! a.! Ho!comp a o! io i.!!
! ! I>ha e!bough ! lowe s!
! b.! Ho!be u o!la e.!
! ! I>ha e!d unk!milk!
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! c.! *Ho!comp a o!gio nale.!
! ! I>ha e!bough !newspape !
(2)!! a.! Sono!a i a i! io i.!
! ! a e!a i ed! lowe s!
! b.! E'ʹ!s a o! e sa o!la e.!
! ! is!been!spil !milk!
! c.! *E'ʹ!a i a o! agazzo.!
! ! !!is!a i ed!boy!
The!p e e bal!subjec !posi ion!is!in!any!case! o bidden! o !ba e!singula !
and!plu al,!coun !and!mass!nouns!(see!sec ion!3).!
Ba e!singula !coun !nouns!a e!possible!–!in!pos > e bal!posi ion!–!only!in!
nega i e!sen ences!o !in!yes>no!ques ions,!bu !again!wi h!s onge !limi a ions!
han!ba e!non>singula s!(plu al!and!mass!nouns)2!!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
2!The!s uc u es!exempli ied!in!(3)!appea ! equen ly!in!idioma ic!exp essions,!
as!in!!
(i)! a.! Non!c'ʹe a!anima! i a.!
! ! no ! he e.was!li ing!soul!'ʹThe e!was!nobody'ʹ!
------b.! Da !ca a!bianca!
! ! o>gi e!whi e!pape !'ʹ o!gi e! ull!powe 'ʹ!
See-Renzi!(2001,!427>434),!who!also!sugges s! ha !in!some!cases! he!ba e!objec !
noun!is!inco po a ed!in! he!go e ning! e b;!see! o !example:!
(ii)! a.! Non!ho!ape o!lib o.!
! ! no !I>ha e!opened!book!'ʹI!ha en'ʹ !s udied!a !all'ʹ!
!b.! Non!ha!de o!pa ola.!
! ! no !he.has! old!wo d!'ʹHe!didn'ʹ !speak'ʹ!
See! also! Longoba di! (1994),! who! in! n! 6! compa es! he! p oduc i i y! o ! he!
nega i e!con ex ! o ! he!licensing!o !ba e!singula s!in!F ench!(s udied!by!Kayne!1981)!
wi h! he!limi a ions! ha !a e! ound!in!I alian.!F ench!needs!a!p eposi ion!de- o!p ope ly!
go e n! he!ba e!singula !noun;!in!I alian! he!kind>de ining! ela i e!has! he!same! esul :!
wi h! his!addi ion,! he!nega i e!con ex !is! ully!p oduc i e!in!I alian! oo.!!
A! ecen ,! e y! in e es ing,! pape ! by! Kayne! (2009)! on! de ini e! and!inde ini e!
a icles! akes! he! posi ion! o ! assuming! ha ! he! nume al! "ʺone"ʺ! does! no ! exis ! as! a!
p imi i e!o !human!language;!all!languages!ha e! he!inde ini e!a icle!"ʺone"ʺ,!which!in!
some!con ex s!licenses!a!silen !SINGLE,!which! gi es! he! nume al!in e p e a ion.!He!
concludes! ha !"ʺLike!nega ion,!de ini e!a icles!and!inde ini e!a icles!a e! ound!in!all!
languages,! some imes! silen ,! some imes! no ."ʺ! I! wonde ! how! o! accoun ! o ! (o !
in e p e )! he! ac ! ha !1)!i !a!language!has!one!single!a icle,! his!is!a!de ini e!a icle;!2)!
all!languages!(I!know!o )!ha e!a!p onounced!wo d! ha !means!"ʺone!SINGLE"ʺ,!no !all!
languages!ha e!a!p onounced!a icle!"ʺone"ʺ.!!
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(3)! a.! ??Non!è!a i a a! agazza.!
!!!!!!!no !is!a i ed!gi l!!!
! b.! ??Non!si!è!p esen a o!s uden e.!
!! !!!no !himsel .is!p esen ed!s uden !
! !c.! ??Non!ho! is o!s uden e.!
!!!!!!no !I>ha e!seen!s uden !
(4)! a.! Non!si!sono!p esen a i!s uden i.!
! ! no ! hemsel es.a e!p esen ed!s uden s!
! b.! Non!ho!comp a o!o o.!
! ! no !I>ha e!bough !gold!
Sen ences!such!as!(3a>c)!a e!be e !i !an!adjec i e,!o !a!PP,!is!added:!!
(5)! a.! ?Non!è!a i a a! agazza!col!bagaglio!in a o.!
! ! !!no !is!a i ed!gi l!wi h! he!luggage!undamaged!
! b.! ?Non!si!è!p esen a o!s uden e!p epa a o.!
! ! !!no !himsel .is!p esen ed!s uden !p epa ed!
! c.! ?Non!ho! is o!s uden e!a en o.!
! ! !!no !I>ha e!seen!s uden !a en i e!
The! same! sen ences! become! pe ec ! i ! a! ela i e! clause! expands! he!
adjec i e!o ! he!PP!gi ing! hem!explici ly! he! unc ion!o !p edica es:!!
(6)! a.! Non!è!a i a a! agazza!che!a esse!il!bagaglio!in a o.!
! ! no !is!a i ed!gi l! had!had! he!luggage!in ac !
!!!!! b.! Non!si!è!p esen a o!s uden e!che! osse!p epa a o.!
! ! no !himsel .is!p esen ed!s uden ! ha !we e!p epa ed!
!!!!! c.! non!ho! is o!s uden e!che!s esse!a en o.!
! ! no !I>ha e!seen!s uden ! ha !we e!a en i e!
The!pos >nominal!adjec i e,!as!well!as! he!PP,!o !(5)!is!in e p e ed!as!a!
educed! ela i e,!which!appea s!explici ly!in! he!co esponding! e sions!in!(6).!!
The! seman ic! in e p e a ion! o ! he! N! mus ! be! 'ʹinde ini e! non>speci ic'ʹ.!
The! ela i e!clause!obliga o ily!has! he!subjunc i e!mood;! he! ela i e!is!only!
appa en ly!a! es ic i e,!as!I!will!now!show.!
2.!A!p o ile!o !kind<de ining! ela i e!clauses3!
Mode n!S anda d!I alian!has!a!sys em!o ! ela i iza ion!which!uses!lexical!
wh>p onouns!o !abs ac !wh>elemen s;!wh>mo emen !in! es ic i e! ela i es!on!
he!subjec !o !on! he!objec !lea es!a!gap! ha !canno !be!bound!by!a!cli ic:!!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
3!Fo ! mo e! de ails! see! Benincà! &! Cinque! ( o hcoming),! and! e e ences! ci ed!
he e.!!

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(7)!!Il! agazzo!che!(*l'ʹ)hai!conosciu o!pa e!domani.!!
! he!boy! ha !(him).you>ha e!me ,!lea es! omo ow!
When!a!PP!is! ela i ized,!s anda d!I alian!uses! ela i e!p onouns;!in!colloquial!
s anda d!and! egional!I alian,!as!well!as!in! he!dialec s,!headed! ela i e!clauses,!
when!a!DP!o !a!PP!is! ela i ized,!a e!in oduced!by!a!ba e!complemen ize ,!che,!
which! can! co>occu ! wi h! a! esump i e! cli ic! exp essing! he! g amma ical!
unc ion!o ! he!wh:!
(8)! Il! agazzo!che!gli!ho!da o!il!lib o!si!chiama!Ma io.!
!!!!!!!! he!boy! ha ! o.him!I.ha e!gi en! he!book!is!called!Ma io!
Non> es ic i e! ela i e!clauses!in! he!colloquial!s yle!ha e!a! esump i e!
cli ic!copying! he!wh:!!
(9)!Ma io,!che!nessuno!lo!soppo a,!non!sa à!in i a o.!!
!!!!!!!!!Ma io,! ha !nobody!him!can!s and,!will!no !be!in i ed!
The! cli ic! in! he! ela i es! on! he! subjec ! canno ! be! exempli ied! wi h!
I alian,!which!lacks!subjec !cli ics,!bu !wi h!no he n!I alian!dialec s:!see!(6a),!in!
con as !wi h!(6b),! om!Paduan:!!
(10)! a.! Un!p o esso e!che!(*el)!ga e a!dedicà!la! i a!ala!scola!se!gà! i i à!( es ic i e)!
! ! a! eache ! ha !had!de o ed!his!li e! o!school!has! e i ed!
!!!!!! b.! Ma io,!che!el!ga e a!dedicà!la! i a!ala!scola,!se!gà! i i à!(non7 es ic i e)!
! ! Ma io,! ha !he.had!de o ed!his!li e! o!school,!has! e i ed!!
Some!appa en ly! es ic i e! ela i e!clauses!admi ,!in!colloquial!I alian,!a!
cli ic!copy!o ! he!wh:!bo h! he! ollowing!sen ences!a e!appa en ly! es ic i e,!bu !
(11a)!canno !ha e!a!cli ic!copy,!while!(11b)!is!pe ec ly!g amma ical:!
(11)! a.! *Ho!conosciu o!un! agazzo!che!non!lo!conosci!mai!abbas anza.!
! ! !!I!ha e!me !a!boy! ha !you!don'ʹ !know!him!e e !enough.!
!!!!! b.! Ma io!è!un! agazzo!che!non!lo!conosci!mai!abbas anza.!!
! ! M.!is!a!boy! ha !you!don'ʹ !know!him!e e !enough.!
(11b)!belongs! o! he!kind>de ining! ela i e!class;! hese! ela i es!do!no !
ha e! he! unc ion!o !na owing!down! he! e e ence!o ! he!head!noun,!which!can!
emain!unde e mined,!bu ! ha !o !p o iding! he! ea u es!which!cha ac e ize! he!
class! hey!belong! o.!Wha ! hey!ha e!in!common!wi h!non> es ic i e! ela i es!is!
p ecisely! ha ! he! unc ion!o ! he! ela i e!has!no hing! o!do!wi h! e e ence!o ! he!
head,!since! he!non> es ic i e!is!headed!by!a! e e en ial!head,!and! he!kind>
de ining!does!no !need! o!iden i y! he! e e ence!o ! he!head.!!
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The!basic!con ex !is! ha !o !a!pos >copula ! ela i e!clause4,!which! o ms,!
oge he !wi h! he!head!noun,! he!p edica e!o !a!copula !s uc u e.5!
The e!a e! a ious!cha ac e is ics!which!show! ha ! hese! ela i e!clauses,!
despi e! hei !appea ance,!a e!no ! es ic i e.!Among!o he ! hings,! hey!admi !
he!pos > e bal!nega i e!ad e b!mica!(see!(13)),!and! hei ! e b!can!ha e!genuine!
epis emic!in e p e a ion!(see!(14)).!
The! pos e bal! nega i e! pola i y! elemen ! mica! is! possible! in! non>
es ic i e! ela i e!clauses!and!impossible!in! es ic i e! ela i e!clauses:!
(12)! a.! Hanno!in i a o!Ma io,!che!non!conosco!mica.!!
! ! hey!ha e!in i ed!Ma io,!whom!I!don'ʹ -know!NEG!
!!!!!!!! b.! *Hanno!in i a o!il! agazzo!che!non!conosco!mica.!!
! ! !! hey!ha e!in i ed! he!boy! ha !I!don'ʹ -know!NEG!
In e es ingly,!kind>de ining! ela i es!beha e!like!non> es ic i es:!!
(13)! a.! Ques i!sono!i!lib i!che!non!ho!mica!anco a!le o.!!
! ! hese!a e! he!books! ha !I!ha en'ʹ !NEG!ye ! ead!
!!!!!!! b.! Ma io!è!un!uomo!che!non!esi a!mica!a! ischia e.!
! ! Ma io!is!a!man! ha !doesn'ʹ !hesi a e!NEG- o! isk!!
The! possibili y! o ! using! a! modal! in! genuinely! epis emic! eadings! in!
I alian!is!admi ed!in!non> es ic i e!bu !no !in! es ic i e! ela i es,!as!shown!in!
(14):!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
4!Jiménez>Fe nández!(2012)!de elops!a! e y!in e es ing!analysis!o !seman ic!and!
p agma ic!aspec s!o !copula !s uc u es,!in!pa icula ! he! ela ion!be ween!indi idual!
le el!/!s age!le el!p edica es,!on! he!one!hand,!and! he!possibili y! o ! hei !subjec s! o!
be! opics,! on! he!o he .! His! conclusions! ha e! indi ec ! bu ! p ecise! ele ance! o ! he!
p esen !issue;!I!will!hope ully!deal!wi h! hem!in! u u e!wo k.!
5!In!Benincà!and!Cinque!( o hcoming)!we!p esen !some!phenomena!o !English!
dialec s! ha !a e!only! ound!wi h! his!class!o ! ela i es,!in!pa icula !con ac ! ela i es!on!
he!subjec ;!ano he !in e es ing!con ex !is!desc ibed!in!Rad o d!(1981:!270>1)!as!a! ule!o !
ela i e!clauses!appa en ly! es ic ed! o!un> ensed!(in ini i al)! ela i es:!
(i)!a.!!He!is!looking! o !someone!on!whom! o!pu !his! us .!
!!!!! b.! He!is!looking! o !some hing!abou !which! o!complain.!
!!!!! c.! *He!is!looking! o !some hing!which! o!complain!abou .!
! ! (c .!I!ha e!disco e ed! he! hing!which! hey!ha e!complained!abou ).!
P obably! he!>!s ill!mys e ious!>! eason!o ! his!phenomenon!does!no !di ec ly!
ha e! o!do!wi h! he!un> ensedness! o ! he! ela i e!clause!bu !wi h! he!kind>de ining!
na u e!o ! he!in e p e a ion!o ! he!head,!which!is!induced!by! he!un> ensed! e b.!!
!
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(14)!! a.! Il/Un! agazzo!che!de e!pa i e!p es o!la!ma ina!a i a!semp e!s anco!!
! ( es ic i e:-deon ic-in e p .-only)!
! ! he/a!boy! ha !has! o!lea e!ea ly!in! he!mo ning!always!a i es! i ed!
!b.!Ma io,!che!de e!pa i e!p es o!la!ma ina,!a i a!semp e!s anco!! !
! ! (non7 es ic i e:-bo h-epis emic-and-deon ic-in e p e a ion)!
! ! Ma io,!who!has! o!lea e!ea ly!in! he!mo ning,!always!a i es! i ed!
I !we!inse !an!appa en ! es ic i e!clause!in!a!DP!which!is! he!p edica e!
o !a!copula !s uc u e!(as!in!15),! he!epis emic!in e p e a ion!becomes!possible!
(o ,!in!o he !cases,!obliga o y,! o !seman ic! easons,!as!in!(15b)):!
(15)! a.! Ma io!è!un!uomo!che!de e!alza si!mol o!p es o!la!ma ina!!
! !! (epis emic-o -deon ic-in e p e a ion)!!
!Ma io!is!a!man! ha !mus !ge !up! e y!ea ly!in! he!mo ning!
! b.! Ma io!è!un!uomo!che!de e!ama e!mol o!i!suoi! igli.!
!Ma io!is!a!man! ha !mus !lo e!his!child en! e y!much!(only-epis emic-in e p e a ion)!
The!cases!we!ha e!seen!abo e,!whe e!a!ba e!singula !noun!was!admi ed,!
in! he!pos > e bal!posi ion!o !nega i e!and!in e oga i e!con ex s!we e!p ecisely!
de e mined!by!a!kind>de ining! ela i e,!in!explici !o ! educed! o m.!This!kind!o !
ela i e!will!play!an!in e es ing! ole!also!in!ba e!plu al!coun !nouns.!
3.!Ba e!plu als!and!mass!nouns!
Ba e!plu al!and!mass!nouns,!di e en ly! om!singula !coun !nouns,!do!
no !need!a!nega i e!o !in e oga i e!con ex ! o!be!licensed;!like!ba e!singula !
nouns,! hough,! hey! can!only!appea !in!pos > e bal! posi ion,!unless! hey!a e!
modi ied!in! he!way! ha !we!will!see.!
Subjec s!o !une ga i e!and!in ansi i e! e bs!canno !be!ba e,!nei he !in!
p e e bal!no !in!pos > e bal!posi ion6:!!
(16)! a.! *Passeggiano! agazzi.!
! ! !! hey>walk!boys!
! b.! *Ragazzi!s anno! endendo! io i.!
! ! !!boys!a e!selling! lowe s!!
! c.! *Ragazzi!camminano!nel!pa co.!!
! ! !!boys! hey>walk!in! he!pa k!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
6!The e!a e!na a i e! con ex s!and! ense>moods! ha ! ende ! hese!cases!mo e!
accep able,!possibly!i ! he!ba e!noun!is!in!some!sense!gi en!as!pa !o !a!lis !o ! ea u es!
cha ac e ising!a!si ua ion.!This!in e es ing!aspec !is!no ! ele an !a ! he!momen .!
!
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The! p e e bal! posi ion! is! no ! pe mi ed! e en! o ! ba e! subjec s! o !
unaccusa i es:!
(17)!a.!*Fio i!sono!a i a i!ie i!a!casa!di!mia!mad e.!
! ! !! lowe s!a e!a i ed!yes e day!!
! b.! *Pesce!è!s a o!pesca o!nell'ʹAd ia ico.!!
! ! !! ish!has!been! ished!in! he!Ad ia ic!sea!
As!di ec !objec s,!ba e!plu al!coun !nouns!and!ba e!singula !mass!nouns!
a e!pe ec ly!g amma ical:!
(18)! a.! Ho!comp a o! io i.!
! ! I!ha e!bough ! lowe s!
! b.! Ho! e sa o!la e.!!
! ! I!ha e!spil !milk!
The!ung amma ical!sen ences!in!(16>17)!become!pe ec ly!g amma ical!i !
we!add!a!kind>de ining!speci ica ion:!
(19)! a.! Fio i!di!g ande!bellezza!sono!a i a i!ie i!a!casa!di!mia!mad e.!
! ! lowe s!o !g ea !beau y!a e!a i ed!yes e day!a !my!mo he 'ʹs!home!
! b.! Pesce!di!sca so!p egio!è!s a o!pesca o!nell'ʹAd ia ico.!!
! ! ish!o !low!quali y!has!been! ished!in! he!Ad ia ic!sea!
(20)! a.! Passeggia ano! agazzi!dall'ʹaspe o!cu ioso.!
! ! walked!boys!o !cu ious!look!
! b.! Ragazzi!dall'ʹaspe o!cu ioso! ende ano! io i!/!cammina ano!nel!pa co.!!
! ! boys!o !cu ious!look!sold! lowe s!/ hey>walked!in! he!pa k!
3.1.!Ope a o s!o !ba e!nouns!
Ba e! plu al! coun ! nouns! (and! singula ! mass! nouns)! ha e,! hen,! less!
es ic ions! han!ba e!singula !coun !nouns;! hey!a e!ne e heless!impossible!in!
p e e bal!posi ion!(see!(16>17)),!unless! hey!a e!modi ied,!as!in!(19>20).!
I !s ill!seems! ha ! he!necessi y!o !a!nega i e!o !in e oga i e!con ex ! o !
singula ! coun ! nouns! has! o! be! based! on! Kayne'ʹs! (1981)! analysis:! he e! is! a!
a iable! (an! Emp y! Ca ego y)! ha ! has! o! be! p ope ly! bound! by! a! c>
commanding! ope a o .! To! accoun ! o ! he! di e ence! be ween! singula ! and!
plu al!coun !nouns,!one!can!hypo hesize! ha !singula !nouns!ha e!–!a !leas !>!
wo!silen ! unc ional!heads!whose! ea u es!ha e! o!be!bound!(in e p e ed)!by!a!
c>commanding! ope a o :! one! is! bound! by! pe son! ag eemen ,! and! his! is! he!
eason!why!i !has! o!be!in!pos > e bal!posi ion,! he!o he !needs! o!be!licensed!by!
an!ope a o !(p o ided!by!a!nega i e!o !in e oga i e!con ex ).!The!di e ence!
be ween!singula !and!plu al!ba e!nouns!could!be!linked! o! he! ac ! ha !ba e!
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(36)! a.!!Sì,!le!ho! is e.!!
! ! yes,! hem.I>ha e!seen!
!!!!!!!! b.!!Sì,!ne!ho! is e.!!
! ! yes,!o > hem.I>ha e!seen!
The!same!e ec !can!be!obse ed!wi h!mass!nouns;! he!di+a icle!pa i i e!
is!no !app op ia e!as!di ec !objec ! o!ge !an!indi idual!le el!desc ip ion,!which!
equi es!ins ead!a!ba e!N:!
(37)! a.! Ma io!(è!uno!che)!be e!bi a,!ma!non!ne!be e!quasi!mai.!
! ! Ma io!(is!a!man! ha )!d inks!bie ,!bu !he!d inks!o >i !almos !ne e !
!!!! b.! ??Ma io!(è!uno!che)!be e!della!bi a.!
! ! ! !Ma io!(is!a!man! ha )!d inks!o > he!bie !
!!!!! c.! *Ma io!(è!uno!che)!be e!della!bi a!ma!non!ne!be e!quasi!mai.!
! ! !!Ma io!(is!a!man! ha )!d inks!bie ,!bu !he!d inks!o >i !almos !ne e !
Wi h! he! pa i i e! di+a .! in! I alian! we! can! only! ha e! a! s age! le el! o !
habi ual!in e p e a ion,!bu !no !a!genuinely!indi idual!le el!one.!!
The!in e nal!s uc u e!o !di+a .-p obably!con ains!an!inde ini e!quan i ie !
QUANTITY!(NUMBER,! o !AMOUNT,!depending!on! he!coun /mass!class!o !
he!Noun),! ollowed!by! he!pa i i e!p eposi ion!and! he!a icle,!obliga o y!in!
I alian.!9!
Compa ing! I alian! wi h! F ench,! Kayne! (2004,! 2012)! unde lines! he!
di e ence! o ! F ench! and! I alian! wi h! espec ! o! he! p esence! o ! he! de ini e!
a icles,!which!gi es! he!minimal!pai !(38a,!b):!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
9!I !is! emp ing! o!connec ! his!s uc u e!wi h!o he !cases!whe e! he!p eposi ion!
di-is! ela ed! o!NUMBER/AMOUNT!in!I alian:!
(i)!a.!Voglio!più!libe à!/!lib i.!
! ! I!wan !mo e! eedom!/!books!
!!!!!!b.!Ne! oglio!*(di)!più.!
! ! o >i .I>wan !(o )!mo e!
The!same!pa e n!is!p oduced!wi h!meno-‘less’.!Possibly,! his!has!some hing! o!
do! wi h! he! compa a i e! na u e! o ! he! quan i ica ion! (whe e! di- has! he! unc ion! o !
English! han).!Bu !ano he !phenomenon!>! ound!in!spoken!Tuscan,!and!in!some!dialec s!
(Emilian)!>!is! ep esen ed!by! he!quan i ie !mol i,-which!can!be!p eceded!by!di:!dimol o-
‘ e y,!much’,!dimol i-‘many’).!In!mode n!Flo en ine!(J.!Ga zonio,!p.c.)! his! o m!is!only!
used!–! e y!na u ally!>!when!mol o,-mol i-is!accompanied!by!a!silen !N!o !a! ace,!no !
when! he!N!is!p onounced.!This!case!has!–!a ! i s !sigh !–!possible!a ini ies!wi h! he!
pa i i e!di+a .,!bu ! he!ma e !is!s ill!unclea ! o!me.-!

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(38)! a.!*Jean!boi !biè e.!
!!!!!!!!b.!Gio anni!be e!bi a.!
!! ! John!d inks!bee !
In!F ench!only!(39)!is!possible:!
(39)!Jean!boi !de!la!biè e.!
!J.!d inks!o . he!bie !
I !is!no !clea !i !(39)!can!ha e!an!indi idual!le el!in e p e a ion.!I !i !does,!
he!di e ence!could! eside!in! he!seman ics!o ! he!de ini e!a icle,!which!is!an!
exis en ial!ope a o !in!I alian!bu !no !in!F ench.!
5.!Summing!up!
The! aim! o ! his! b ie ! analysis! was! o! u he ! e lec ! on! he! seman ic!
ea u es! ha !a e!in ol ed!in! he!cons uc ions!wi h!ba e!nouns,!wi h! espec ! o!
he! e e en ial! ea u es! he!head!Noun!is!endowed!wi h,!in!de e mine less!DPs!
on! he!one!hand,!and!in! ela i e!clauses,!on! he!o he .!
To!demons a e! he!p esence!o !an!ope a o !in! he! unc ional!s uc u e!o !
ba e!plu als!and!singula !mass!nouns!I!ha e!used!a! es !based!on! he!di e en !
o m!o ! he! esump i e!cli ic! ha !appea s!wi h!le !disloca ion!o ! hese!nominal!
s uc u es.!
!I !seems! ha ! he!impossible!ba e!DPs!a e!excluded!because! hei !s a us!
wi h! espec ! o! e e en ial! ea u es! is! no ! comple e;! hey! can! be! escued! i ,!
h ough! he!addi ion!o !a!speci ic! ype!o !p edica e,! hey!a e!assigned! o! he!
'ʹclassi ied'ʹ!ca ego y,!which!means!'ʹnei he !de ini e!no !inde ini e'ʹ.!!
REFERENCES!
Benincà,!Paola.!1980.!Nomi!senza!a icolo,!Ri is a-di-G amma ica-Gene a i a-5,!51–
62.!
Benincà,!Paola.!2012.!F asi! ela i e!e!s u u e!copula i.!In!Vincenzo!O ioles!&!
Paolo! Bo ghello! (eds.),! Pe - Robe o- Gusmani.- S udi- in- Rico do.! Udine:!
Fo um!Edi ice.!
Benincà,! Paola! &! Guglielmo! Cinque.! Fo hcoming.!Kind>de ining! ela i e!
clauses!in! he!diach ony!o !I alian.!
Haïk,!Isabelle.!1982.!On!cli ic!en-in!F ench,!Jou nal-o -Linguis ic-Resea ch-2!(1),!63–
87.!
!
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Jiménez>Fe nández,!Ángel!L.! 2012.!Wha !in o ma ion!s uc u e! ells! us!abou !
indi idual/s age>le el! p edica es,! Bo ealis.- An- In e na ional- Jou nal- o -
Hispanic-Linguis ics-1,!1–32.!
Kayne,!Richa d!S.!1981.!ECP!ex ensions,!Linguis ic-Inqui y-12,!93–133.![Rep in ed!
in! Richa d! S.! Kayne.! 1984.! Connec edness- and- Bina y- B anching.! 47–86.!
Do d ech :!Fo is].!
Kayne,!Richa d!S.!2003.!Romance!pa i i es!and! he!syn ax!o !quan i y.!Ms.!!
Kayne,!Richa d!S.!2004.!Some!p elimina y!compa a i e! ema ks!on!F ench!and!
I alian! de ini e! a icles.! Ms.! [Published! in! Richa d! S.! Kayne.! 2009.!
Compa isons-and-Con as .!Ox o d/New!Yo k:!Ox o d!Uni e si y!P ess].!
Kayne,!Richa d!S.!2009.!Mo e!a icles! han!mee ! he!eye.!Ms.!
Longoba di,!Giuseppe.!1994.!Re e ence!and!p ope !names,!Linguis ic-Inqui y!25,!
609–665.!!
Renzi,! Lo enzo.! 2001.! L’a icolo.! In! Lo enzo! Renzi,! Giampaolo! Sal i! &! Anna!
Ca dinale i!(eds.),!G ande-G amma ica-I aliana-di-Consul azione,- ol.-I.!371–
437.!Bologna:!Il!Mulino.!
Rad o d,! And ew.! 1981.! T ans o ma ional- Syn ax.! Camb idge:! Camb idge!
Uni e si y!P ess.!
!
Recep ion!da e/Fecha!de! ecepción/Da a!de! ecepção:!02/08/2012!
Re ision!da e/Fecha!de! e isión/Da a!de! e isão:!02/08/2012!
Accep a ion!da e/Fecha!de!acep ación/Da a!de!acei ação:!02/08/2012!
!
Paola!Benincà! !
[email p o ec ed]!
Uni e si y!o !Pado a!
!