
doi: 10.1007/bf00135617
An analysis of null object constructions in colloquial Brazilian Portuguese is brought to bear on the theory of empty categories. Focusing on their properties in adjunct clauses, it is argued that at least some null objects must be analyzed as pro's, even though they are not morphologically identified. An empty topic variable approach (Huang, 1984) is argued to be empirically inadequate and to have no explanatory advantage over an analysis on which all null objects are pro's, in spite of the fact that there exist gaps in the distribution of null objects that appear to support the empty topic hypothesis. Brazilian Portuguese is shown to be a language that requires subject pro to be identified. It is suggested that object pro must also be identified and that the notion of what counts as identification must be broad enough to include the possibility of intrinsic specification of features. In the absence of identifying features on its govverning head, pro is predictably third person.
| citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 65 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
