The (non-)tree-representability of syntactic objects. A graft-theoretical approach to nominal coordination
The (non-)tree-representability of syntactic objects. A graft-theoretical approach to nominal coordination

Summary/Abstract: The present paper deals with nominal coordination and the way Graft Theory can be applied to this domain. As introduced and defined by van Riemsdijk (1998, 2000 and 2001), Graft Theory was initially applied to the domain of syntactic amalgams (Lakoff 1974) and transparent free relative clauses. The paper claims that Graft Theory can equally apply to the domain of coordination and a range of syntactic phenomena that are associated with coordination. The main idea that this paper advances is that Graft Theory could solve the problem of syntactic representability with coordinate structures, which are known to pose serio us difficulties for binary branching. By endorsing the main tenets of Graft Theory, the paper also touches upon an issue with far -reaching implications: the (im)possibility of representing certain syntactic ob jects as syntactic trees.

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