Controversies on Brazilian Portuguese null subjects: an experimental study

• Grant number: 18/01470-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: January 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Linguistic Theory and Analysis
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Jairo Morais Nunes
• Grantee: Claudia Souza Coelho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

There is a consensus in the generative literature that the null subject of Brazilian Portuguese does not behave like its counterpart in standard pro-drop languages. This project examines from an experimental perspective two approaches to this null subject: the analysis in terms of topic chain (Modesto 2000, 2011) and the analysis in terms of movement (Ferreira 2000, Rodrigues 2004, Nunes 2008). Both analyses have similar theoretical bases and empirical coverage, differing fundamentally in relation to the null subjects of finite sentences associated with object control verbs such as 'convencer'. Crucially, data that could resolve this divergence have received opposing judgments from the proponents of each analysis. In order to clarify this point of disagreement experimentally, this project formulates and proposes to apply two tests of perception involving the verb 'convencer' - one involving Principle C and epithets and another one involving the preposition 'de'. The expectation is that the experimental control of variables that can lead to divergence of judgments should make the empirical basis for the analysis clearer and, consequently, make it possible to verify the adequacy of the competing analyses under discussion. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COELHO, Claudia Souza. The behavior of epithets in convencer-sentences: experimental evidence regarding null subjects in Brazilian Portuguese. 2020. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.