Multiple Nominative Constructions in Japanese and Their Theoretical Implications

This paper studies the derivation of multiple nominative constructions (MNC) in Japanese. First, discussing the MNC-sentences in which there is a relation of inalienable possession between nominative noun phrases, I will argue that the set of local economy principles that choose among potentially possible steps at a single stage of a derivation contains a principle that minimizes the size of moved elements. Second, considering the derivation of the MNC-sentences in which there is no relation of inalienable possession between nominative noun phrases, I will show a new piece of evidence for the Merge-over-Move principle.