Blocking Effects of Higher Numerals in Bangla: A Phase-Based Analysis

On the <small>DP</small>/<small>NP</small> status of nominal projections in Bangla: Consequences for the theory of phases

“…Section 3 presents binding facts providing further support that Bangla has a dp-layer, and section 4 reviews other, independent reasons why a no-dp analysis for Bangla is not well-supported. Section 5 then discusses the consequences of a dp-analysis for Bangla and presents arguments that dp in Bangla is a phase, in addition to the nominal-internal qp phase argued for in Simpson and Syed (2016). This consequently suggests a bi-phasal architecture of nominal constituents similar to the occurrence of two phasal levels within clauses.…”

“…Building on Syed (2015) and Simpson and Syed (2016), which present arguments that Bangla nominals project internal, mid-level phases (qp constituents headed by numerals and other quantifiers), the paper provides arguments that the highest dp level of Bangla nominals also functions as a phase. This leads to the conclusion that nominal phrases may in fact consist of two phasal components, in a way that resembles the bi-phasal architecture of clauses, and suggests a stronger correspondence in phasal structure across clausal and nominal domains than commonly assumed.…”

“…Within the nominal domain, extensions of Chomsky's original proposals relating to phases in clauses have led to suggestions that dps occur as phases (Svenonius 2004;Bošković 2012; Hinzen 2012 among many others). In Syed (2015) and Simpson and Syed (2016), an extended argument from variant word order patterns within nominal phrases in Bangla is presented to argue that nominal constituents may also contain an internal qp phase, paralleling the occurrence of a lower phasal unit within clauses. Now that it has been argued here that Bangla nominals also project up to a dp level, we will claim that dps in Bangla occur as phases in addition to internal qp phases, presenting two specific empirical patterns and arguments in favor of such a conclusion (which is in fact the default conclusion given either common assumptions that dps are phases, or Bošković's 2014 proposal that the highest functional projection in any nominal or clausal constituent is contextually determined to be a phase).…”

“…Such a conclusion is shown to have an important consequence for cross-linguistic assumptions relating to the phasal architecture of nominal projections, building on work on nominal-internal phases initiated in Simpson and Syed (2016): it is suggested that the extended projection of noun phrases may contain two separate phases, in a way that resembles the occurrence of two phasal levels within clauses. …”

“…(26) However, in other instances, LBE does seem to be acceptable, specifically where contrast and focus-movement occurs, accompanied with appropriate focus intonation/stress. In Syed (2013) and Simpson and Syed (2016) it is indeed shown that adjectives in Bangla can undergo focus-movement to the left-periphery of the nominal domain, as shown in (28) Thus, LBE might seem to be possible in Bangla in appropriate circumstances, suggesting that Bangla should be analyzed as an np language. However, we believe LBE is not a strong, reliable diagnostic for distinguishing dp and np languages, whether LBE can occur or not.…”