Against ConjP

It has been widely assumed within Principles and Parameters theory that coordinate structures are Conjunction Phrases, with the first conjunct the specifier, the conjunction the head, and the second conjunct the complement. However, this analysis has not been assumed in other frameworks such as Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar, Lexical Functional Grammar and Categorial Grammar. There is considerable evidence that proponents of other frameworks have been right to be sceptical. Among other things, the distribution of coordinate structures, coordinate structures containing more than two conjuncts, and coordinate structures in which the conjuncts are words pose serious problems for the analysis. It has sometimes been suggested that the analysis receives some support from cases of unbalanced coordination where just one conjunct triggers agreement on some external head or bears the case assigned by an external head. However, a close look suggests that there is no support here for the analysis. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.