Pronominalization and variation in Dutch demonstrative and possessive expressions

Abstract

The goal of this article is to provide a detailed analysis of DP-internal pronominalization patterns in standard Dutch and Dutch dialects. A core ingredient of our analysis will be the idea that the possessive and demonstrative constructions we discuss feature a DP-internal predication relationship. Furthermore, we aim to explain the (dimensions of) variation between dialects. Part of the attested micro-variation will be shown to be reducible to the PF-interface and the lexicon, i.e., the loci where we expect cross-linguistic/dialectal variation to be given the assumptions of the minimalist program (Chomsky 2000, Kayne 2005).We will further argue that some cross-dialectal differences relate to displacement.