| This thesis investigates the lexicon as a linguistic subcomponent interacting directly with the computational system of language. I propose that morpho syntactically idiosyncratic patterns result from functional marking or lexical specification on the lexical entry. I argue that this specification (1) is highly structured, (2) when applied to verbs, affects their direct object-licensing properties, and (3) interacts with the verb's lexical constant (root) to produce the observed argument-taking properties of the verb.;The data examined include various less-than-productive constructions with the clitic sie¸ (SE) in Polish. These SE uses include verbs labeled (1) inherently reflexive (e.g. smiac sie¸ 'to laugh', bac sie¸ to fear'), (2) idiomatic reflexive (e.g. object impersonal SE constructions), (3) affective (e.g. wrocic sie¸ 'to come back', with the action focused on subject and more telic than the non-SE alternant) and (4) "up-to-completion" constructions where the combination of perfective verb prefixation and the clitic indicates a completed and lexically nuanced action. Moreover, comparisons are made to quantized structures in Spanish (e.g. Juan se comio una manzana 'John ate an apple up', where the clitic unambiguously indicates total consumption of the apple).;I propose that these verbs and constructions involve the lexical specification of functional material projecting as Transitivity and Aspect. The different interpretations of SE arise as a result of the interaction of the clitic's underspecified ϕ-features with variably realized Transitivity and Aspect projections, and different referential relations in the constructions.;I extend the functional architecture adopted for the proposal to productive constructions with SE in Polish. I also explore the lexical specification of other functional layers such as Tense. The thesis thus addresses the question of parameters and limits of lexical specification, both desirable within a Minimalist program of linguistic research. |
