Imenička sintagma: np , dp , ili …? (Povodom Boškovićevog: Imenička fraza – DP ili NP?, u Pismu V/1)
Noun phrases: nps , or dps , or …?

Summary/Abstract: This paper argues that languages without articles must have some functional projection above NP. It is claimed that demonstratives, possessives, adjectival numerals, descriptive adjectives, and nonpredicating adjectives are in Spec positions of separate functional projections above NP. Heads of these functional projections do not contain any lexical or morphological material, but only relevant features. Adjectival elements are base generated in the [Spec, NP]. However, they cannot remain in situ, but must move in order to check various features. Nonpredicating adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number and case. Therefore, they move to the Specifier of the functional projection to check these features establishing Spec-head agreement with the functional head, call it Agr head. Desriptive adjectives which may appear in two forms, so-called definite and indefinite forms, move to a higher functional projection where they can check their definiteness/ specificity features. Adjectival numerals move to a still higher functional projection where they check their specific number features. Possesives move to a still higher projection to check their possessive features. Finally, demonstratives must check their referential features in the specifier of the highest functional projection. We may call this highest functional projection RefP. So in contrast to English where noun phrases are DPs, we may say that noun phrases in languages like Bosnian are RefPs.

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