An analysis for vel-adjectives in the light of distributed morphology

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis for vel-adjectives based on Distributed Morphology framework (HALLE; MARANTZ, 1993). This proposal, developed on Oltra- Massuet’s (2014) work, argues that the modal (possibility, probability and obligation) and the non-modal (trigger) readings associated to vel-adjectives result from the presence of different functional heads composing their structure (vo, Asp and Mod). Under this view, this paper claims that /vel/ amounts to a single Vocabulary item spelling out the adjectival head (aº) in the environment of both ModP morpheme and [cause] feature. This explains the different readings, which Brazilian Portuguese speakers relate to these adjectives. Adjectives licensinga modal interpretation have a ModP morpheme in their structure, whereas the ones with a non-modal reading do not project it. This study proposes an important structural distinction among vel-adjectives having a modal reading, namely, only the ones presenting a possibilityreading project Voice, the other ones project only vP, which inserts the event-reading, but does not license the extern-argument projection (see KRATZER, 1996; ALEXIADOU, 2001). Finally, the present analysis suggests the occurrence of a [cause] feature at adjectival head, which assigns the trigger reading to vel-adjectives with a non-modal reading.