The Common Syntax of Deixis and Affirmation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This paper pursues a formal analysis of the idea that affirmative answers to Yes/No questions correspond to a sort of propositional deixis whereby the relevant proposition is pointed at. The empirical case involves an analysis of the deictic particle na in Greek and a comparison of its syntax with that of the affirmative particle nai. It is shown that both involve an extra head which in the case of the deictic particle is uniformly externalised as the pointing gesture. It is argued that gestural externalisation of syntactic structure should be considered on a par with phonetic externalisation (not only in sign languages). The grammar of the affirmative particle gives us also an account of the observed facts about Greek whereby both the truth and the polarity answering system appear to coexist.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOrder and structure in syntax I
Subtitle of host publicationWord order and syntactic structure
EditorsLaura Beiley, Michelle Sheehan
Place of PublicationBerlin
PublisherLanguage Science Press
Chapter12
Pages281-309
Number of pages29
ISBN (Electronic)9783961100262
ISBN (Print)9783961100279
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Dec 2017

Publication series

NameOpen Generative Syntax
PublisherLanguage Science Press

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