Animacy, definiteness, and world knowledge interactions in DOM in Spanish

Luis H. González

doi:10.7557/1.14.2.7985

Authors

Luis H. González Wake Forest University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/1.14.2.7985

Keywords:

Accusative a, animacy, DOM, object marking

Abstract

This article brings together insights from several proposals regarding differential object marking (DOM) in Spanish. It states observations about prominence, saliency, or atypicality of the object (Aissen 2003; Fábregas 2013; García García 2007; Morimoto & de Swarts 2003; Weissenrieder 1991; etc.) in terms of the animacy alignments in González (2021: 42). It also shows the relevance for DOM of a continuum on definiteness from object pronouns, to proper N(ouns), to definite Ns, to indefinite Ns, to bare Ns. The interaction of the animacy alignments in (1) with definiteness makes possible a highly intuitive explanation not only of which objects get DOM (including inanimate ones), but also when some animate objects do not get DOM. The animacy alignments offer an explanation for why the only participant of the existential verb haber (‘there is/there are’) does not accept DOM. World knowledge is invoked to explain cases in which DOM is expected but does not occur; both with animate arguments and with inanimate ones. This article also offers evidence against affectedness as a relevant factor for DOM, and against transitivity as a computation of ten parameters, as proposed in Hopper & Thompson (1980).

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