Emergent Syntax: Insights from Imperatives

A generative theory of emergent syntax aims to reduce UG to a more plausible size, with increased roles for the PLD and a domain-general Minimax acquisition bias. I examine the syntax of imperatives in this light, advancing an analysis that captures the centrality of the addressee. Imperatives provide acquirers with crucial information about their language, from which they actively generalise. Acknowledgements My sincere thanks go to my supervisor, Theresa Biberauer; for help with the data, to Hanna Ajer, Nadine Chappalley, Valentina Colasanti, Anna Exenberger, Andres Faraone-Pirie, Joji Mendoza, Rodrigo Ranero Echeverria, and Thomas Wood; and to everyone else who helped (distract) me. Word Count This thesis contains 20,481 words, an allowance having been granted for glosses and translations. Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except where specifically indicated in the text.