Switch reference in Washo as multiple subject agreement*Switch Reference in Washo as Multiple Subject Agreement • May 16th, 2018
Before we conclude, we would like to briefly discuss a potential alternative analysis. Any account must incorporate two dependencies involving the switch-reference marker: one with the embedded subject and another with the matrix subject. In the analysis pro- posed here, both dependencies are implemented in terms of agreement. In a similar ac- count that ours is based on, Finer (1985) claims that while the dependency established with the embedded subject is agreement, the one with the matrix subject is binding. That is, embedded C acquires the referential index of the embedded subject mediated by subject agreement, but C itself is either a reflexive when surfacing as SS or a pronoun when surfac- ing as DS. As a consequence, Conditions A and B of Binding Theory ensure that SS only surfaces when bound by the higher subject, and DS when not bound by the higher subject. Although this captures some of the properties of Washo switch reference, certain short- comings of the analysis prevent u
