Abstract
dc:description.abstract<p>Case is a well-defined feature of generative syntax. However, the phenomenon of default Case, while widely accepted and discussed, is less defined in its triggers and limitations. The main body of work that seeks to explore default Case is that of Schütze (2001), which presents the main principles of default Case as well as the environments in which it may occur. The purpose of this thesis is to explore default Case at a deeper level, focusing on the interactions of Case, structure, and phi-features to determine how exactly the mechanism works. To achieve this, the data set used consists of English structures which include pronouns that occur with unexpected Case features. Through the course of this analysis, a separate but related phenomenon of category conversion is also explored. Culminating in a preliminary analysis from a cross-linguistic perspective, the study concludes with a more detailed account of how default Case arises.</p>
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Level thesis:degree_level
- Open Access Thesis
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- English Language and Literature
- Year dc:date.available
- 2025
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Ziemelis, Olivia
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- T. Daniel Seely, Ph.D.
- Eric Acton, Ph.D.
Subjects
dc:subject × 6Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Repository record dc:identifier
- https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1324
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2669