The search for V-stranding VP ellipsis in isiXhosa

Abstract

It has been argued that V-stranding VP ellipsis exists in Bantu languages such as Kiswahili, Ndendeule, Chingoni, Kikuyu and Shingazidja.  In the derivation, the verb moves to I0 in a tensed clause and thus survives VP ellipsis. However, through an examination of the  components of a VP and their syntactic positions, we demonstrate that isiXhosa does not have V-stranding VP ellipsis. The article shows  that VP-internal constituents – including object DPs, VP-internal adverbials and locative arguments – are prohibited from being elided and  that the constituents that can be deleted are actually dislocated to a VP-external position before VPE takes place. We further  examine the reasons why isiXhosa does not have V-stranding VP ellipsis and find that in the conjoint form the Immediately After Verb  (IAV) constituent receives a focus reading, whereas in the disjoint form, it is the verb that receives a focus reading, which suggests that  the VP does not comply with the e-GIVENNESS condition. We also explore the properties of the missing object and conclude that the     missing object DP is a consequence of PF-deletion.