Microvariation in the resolution of pronominal subjects in Romance: European Portuguese vs. Italian

The present study investigates how adult native speakers of two null subject Romance languages, European Portuguese (EP) and Italian, interpret overt pronominal subjects in intrasentential contexts. Participants were 30 EP Italian. Each language group was administered multiple-choice tasks (speeded untimed), which crossed the following variables: ‘animacy matrix object’ ([+ human] vs. [- human]) ‘type embedded subject’ (overt null). Our results show that there is microvariation resolution Italian: position antecedent most relevant factor EP, whereas, animacy preponderant factor. Moreover, our reveal an area microvariation: bias for antecedents weaker Italian than EP. Possible reasons observed are discussed detail.