The Syntactic Nature of the Multiple Subject Construction

Abstract

In this paper, I will attempt to put forward a syntactically justifiable theory of Case assignment to the multiple subjects by analyzing the multiple subject constructions in syntactic terms. I suggest X-BAR TRANSPARENCY as a general bar notation principle: X-BAR TRANSPARENCY: A syntactic relation with an external element holds through any number of branching nodes of the same category type with immediate dominance between them or with the same head. The principle leads us to conclude that any projection of INFL functions as a predicate and is able to assign the nominative Case to an NP which is immediately dominated by another projection of the same INFL if those projections of INFL have the same head. Put another way, it is the X-bar transparency principle that accounts for the syntactic nature of the multiple subject construction which enables a single VP to have multiple subjects .or enables multiple subject NPs to be assigned the nominative Case.