Syntactic transitivity of SE-reflexives in Polish

This paper argues for a specific syntactic analysis of constructions with the reflexive SE-type clitic 'si_' in Polish, focusing on derived and inherent SE constructions that exhibit nominative case marking on the DP. A minimalist account is provided for semantically distinct but morphosyntactically identical uses of SE. The framework adopted is that of Bowers 2002 who argues for an articulated vP with a Transitive Phrase (TrP) nested between vP and VP. In canonical transitive sentences Tr° probes for the object DP and assigns it accusative case. I propose that in SE-sentences, the clitic merges in as the head of TrP. _-incomplete, SE blocks the assignment of ACC.

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