ABSTRACT
This paper argues for a distinction between the set of pro-drop languages in the world and the subset of those languages that are pronominal argument (PA) languages. Using data from Navajo and Lummi, it presents three syntactic characteristics that differentiate PA languages from pro-drop languages: (1) pro-drop agreement/syntax is absent in PA languages; (2) DPs in PA languages may only be marked with lexical—not grammatical— Case; and (3) PA languages totally lack determiner quantification effects. It concludes by pointing out that the three syntactic characteristics of PA languages are bundled together and occur in a wide range of genetically unrelated languages: This is taken as conclusive evidence for a PA parameter. This chapter was published after Eloise Jelinek’s passing and was her last publication.
