On the non-canonical double nominative construction in Japanese: The particle

Japanese has two types of double nominative constructions ? the first exemplified by sentences such as Taroo ga otoosan ga sinda ?Taro ? (his) father has died,? and the second by sentences such as Taroo ga eigo ga yoku dekiru ?Taro can (speak) English well.? Kuno (1973a,?b) claimed that the first is a double-subject construction, while the second is a subject?object construction. This analysis has recently been challenged by Shibatani (2001a,?b,?c), who claims that these double-nominative constructions are both double-subject constructions. This paper presents arguments against Shibatani?s double-subject analysis, and in support of the ?Ga for Object Marking? analysis for the second construction.