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In:Morphological Complexity within and across Boundaries: In honour of Aslı Göksel
Edited by Aslı Gürer, Dilek Uygun-Gökmen and Balkız Öztürk
[Studies in Language Companion Series 215] 2020
► pp. 385–418

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Null arguments in Turkish Sign Language

 | Boğaziçi University
 | Boğaziçi University | Harvard University
 | Boğaziçi University
Published online: 15 July 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.215.14kay
Abstract
This paper argues that phonologically null arguments in Turkish Sign Language (henceforth, TİD) are licensed as discourse topic(s). We observe that both null subjects and objects are licensed by both plain and agreeing verbs as well as classifiers. Moreover, we show that null arguments of both plain and agreeing verbs behave the same in syntactic environments, i.e. islands, across-the-board extractions and long distance topicalization constructions. We suggest that phonologically null arguments of plain verbs are licensed by a null topic operator co-indexed with the discourse topic(s) at the syntax-discourse interface level and the phonologically null arguments of agreement verbs are licensed by the agreement morphology that functions as an overt topic operator in TİD.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.A word on methodology
  • 3.Null arguments and verb categories
    • 3.1Handshape as agreement
  • 4.Constraints on null arguments
    • 4.1Topicalization
    • 4.2Island effects
    • 4.3Null arguments and ATB constructions
    • 4.4Null arguments and complement clauses
  • 5.Null arguments and localization
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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2022. On the properties of null subjects in sign languages: the case of French Sign Language (LSF). The Linguistic Review 39:4 ► pp. 655 ff. DOI logo
Kayabaşı, Demet & Natasha Abner
2022. On the Reflexive KENDİ in Turkish Sign Language. Frontiers in Psychology 13 DOI logo

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