The P-Constraint: Person Hierarchy Effects via Point-of-View

@cite{pancheva-zubizarreta-2018}

@cite{pancheva-zubizarreta-2018} (P&Z) attribute PCC effects to the encoding of point-of-view centers within a phase defined by an argument-introducing verbal head (Appl). Their P-Constraint has four parametric components:

1. Domain of application: the interpretable person feature is present on all Appl heads (default), or only on those whose phase contains a [+author]-marked DP (restricted).
2. P-Prominence: an n-valued D at the phase edge must enter an Agree relation with the interpretable person feature. n is [+PROXIMATE] (default), restricted to [+PARTICIPANT] or [+AUTHOR].
3. P-Uniqueness: at most one DP in α can agree with the interpretable person feature (default: active).
4. P-Primacy: if P-Uniqueness is active and multiple DPs can agree, the [+AUTHOR] DP takes priority (default: inactive).

Contextual Proximate Marking

SAPs are inherently [+PROXIMATE]. 3P arguments are [-PROXIMATE] by default but can be contextually marked [+PROXIMATE] when co-occurring with another 3P in the same Appl domain. This contextual mechanism applies ONLY to the [+PROXIMATE] prominence setting — [+PARTICIPANT] and [+AUTHOR] are inherent features with no contextual variant.

PCC Typology

Variety	P-Prominence	P-Uniqueness	P-Primacy	Domain	Licit
Strong	+proximate	active	inactive	all (dflt)	3
Ultra-strong	+proximate	active	active	all	5
Weak	+proximate	inactive	(n/a)	all	7
Super-strong	+participant	active	inactive	all	2
Me-first	+author	active	inactive	restricted	6

def Minimalism.PConstraint.isInherentlyProximate (p : Core.Prominence.PersonLevel) : Bool

Whether a DP is inherently [+PROXIMATE]. SAPs are inherently [+PROXIMATE]; 3P is not (requires contextual marking).

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.isInherentlyProximate p = (Minimalism.decomposePerson p).hasProximate

inductive Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence : Type

P-Prominence settings: what feature value the interpretable person feature on Appl requires for Agree.

Correspond to logophoric roles (Sells 1987):

• .proximate → pivot (default, least restrictive)
• .participant → self (attitude holder)
• .author → source (most restrictive)

• proximate : PProminence
• participant : PProminence
• author : PProminence

instance Minimalism.PConstraint.instDecidableEqPProminence : DecidableEq PProminence

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instDecidableEqPProminence x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯

instance Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPProminence : BEq PProminence

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPProminence = { beq := Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPProminence.beq }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPProminence.beq : PProminence → PProminence → Bool

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPProminence.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)

def Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPProminence.repr : PProminence → Nat → Std.Format

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

instance Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPProminence : Repr PProminence

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPProminence = { reprPrec := Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPProminence.repr }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.satisfiesProminence (setting : PProminence) (p : Core.Prominence.PersonLevel) : Bool

Does a DP inherently satisfy the P-Prominence condition?

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.satisfiesProminence Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.proximate p = (Minimalism.decomposePerson p).hasProximate
• Minimalism.PConstraint.satisfiesProminence Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.participant p = (Minimalism.decomposePerson p).hasParticipant
• Minimalism.PConstraint.satisfiesProminence Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.author p = (Minimalism.decomposePerson p).hasAuthor

structure Minimalism.PConstraint.PCCGrammar : Type

A PCC grammar is parameterized by four settings of the P-Constraint.

• prominence : PProminence

  P-Prominence: what person feature the IO must satisfy. Default: proximate.

• uniqueness : Bool

  P-Uniqueness: at most one DP can agree with the interpretable person feature. Default: true (active).

• primacy : Bool

  P-Primacy: when both DPs satisfy P-Prominence, the [+author] DP takes priority as IO. Conditional on P-Uniqueness. Default: false (inactive).

• restrictedDomain : Bool

  Domain: whether the interpretable person feature is present on ALL Appl heads (false = default) or only when a [+author] DP is present (true = restricted).

instance Minimalism.PConstraint.instDecidableEqPCCGrammar : DecidableEq PCCGrammar

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instDecidableEqPCCGrammar = Minimalism.PConstraint.instDecidableEqPCCGrammar.decEq

def Minimalism.PConstraint.instDecidableEqPCCGrammar.decEq (x✝ x✝¹ : PCCGrammar) : Decidable (x✝ = x✝¹)

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

instance Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPCCGrammar : BEq PCCGrammar

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPCCGrammar = { beq := Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPCCGrammar.beq }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPCCGrammar.beq : PCCGrammar → PCCGrammar → Bool

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.
• Minimalism.PConstraint.instBEqPCCGrammar.beq x✝¹ x✝ = false

instance Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPCCGrammar : Repr PCCGrammar

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPCCGrammar = { reprPrec := Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPCCGrammar.repr }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.instReprPCCGrammar.repr : PCCGrammar → Nat → Std.Format

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Minimalism.PConstraint.strongGrammar : PCCGrammar

Strong PCC: all defaults. DO must be 3P.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.strongGrammar = { }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.ultraStrongGrammar : PCCGrammar

Ultra-strong PCC: P-Primacy active. Allows ⟨1,2⟩ but not ⟨2,1⟩.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.ultraStrongGrammar = { primacy := true }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.weakGrammar : PCCGrammar

Weak PCC: P-Uniqueness inactive. Allows SAP co-occurrence.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.weakGrammar = { uniqueness := false }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.superStrongGrammar : PCCGrammar

Super-strong PCC: [+participant] prominence. IO must be SAP.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.superStrongGrammar = { prominence := Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.participant }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.meFirstGrammar : PCCGrammar

Me-first PCC: [+author] prominence, restricted domain.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.meFirstGrammar = { prominence := Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.author, restrictedDomain := true }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.pg1Grammar : PCCGrammar

PG1 (predicted): [+participant] + P-Primacy.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.pg1Grammar = { prominence := Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.participant, primacy := true }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.pg2Grammar : PCCGrammar

PG2 (predicted): [+participant], no P-Uniqueness.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.pg2Grammar = { prominence := Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.participant, uniqueness := false }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.pg3Grammar : PCCGrammar

PG3 (predicted): [+author], unrestricted domain.

Equations

• Minimalism.PConstraint.pg3Grammar = { prominence := Minimalism.PConstraint.PProminence.author }

def Minimalism.PConstraint.pccLicit (g : PCCGrammar) (ioPerson doPerson : Core.Prominence.PersonLevel) : Bool

Is a ditransitive clitic combination licit under a given PCC grammar?

ioPerson and doPerson are the interpretable person values.

The logic:

1. Domain: if restricted and no [+author] DP present, P-Constraint does not apply.
2. P-Prominence: IO must satisfy the prominence condition. For [+proximate], a 3P IO can satisfy contextually when paired with another 3P (contextual proximate marking). For [+participant] and [+author], satisfaction is inherent only.
3. P-Uniqueness: if active, at most one DP may inherently satisfy the prominence condition. Contextually-marked 3P IOs don't trigger this (the DO in ⟨3,3⟩ stays [-proximate]).
4. P-Primacy: when P-Uniqueness is violated, if the IO is [+author], it takes priority and the violation is rescued.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_1_3 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_2_3 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_3_3 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_3_1 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_3_2 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_1_2 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_2_1 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_1_1 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_2_2 : pccLicit strongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_1_3 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_2_3 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_3_3 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_1_2 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

Ultra-strong allows ⟨1,2⟩: P-Primacy rescues (1P is [+author]).

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_1_1 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_2_1 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

Ultra-strong bans ⟨2,1⟩: 2P IO lacks [+author], no P-Primacy rescue.

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_3_1 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_3_2 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_2_2 : pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_1_3 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_2_3 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_3_3 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_1_2 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_2_1 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_1_1 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_2_2 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_3_1 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_3_2 : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_1_3 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_2_3 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_3_3 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = false

Super-strong bans ⟨3,3⟩: 3P IO is not [+participant].

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_3_1 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_3_2 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_1_2 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.super_2_1 : pccLicit superStrongGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_1_2 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_1_3 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_2_3 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_3_2 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_3_3 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_2_2 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_3_1 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_2_1 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.first = false

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_entails_weak (io do_ : Core.Prominence.PersonLevel) : pccLicit strongGrammar io do_ = true → pccLicit weakGrammar io do_ = true

Strong PCC entails Weak PCC: anything licit under strong is licit under weak. (Strong is strictly more restrictive.)

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_entails_ultra (io do_ : Core.Prominence.PersonLevel) : pccLicit strongGrammar io do_ = true → pccLicit ultraStrongGrammar io do_ = true

Strong PCC entails Ultra-strong PCC: anything licit under strong is licit under ultra-strong. (Ultra-strong adds P-Primacy, which only rescues — never bans — so it is less restrictive.)

def Minimalism.PConstraint.licitCount (g : PCCGrammar) : Nat

Count licit combinations (out of 9 = 3×3).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Minimalism.PConstraint.parameterDepartures (g : PCCGrammar) : Nat

Count parameter departures from the default (strong PCC).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.strong_is_default : parameterDepartures strongGrammar = 0

Strong PCC is the default (0 departures).

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.ultra_one_departure : parameterDepartures ultraStrongGrammar = 1

Ultra-strong and weak each have 1 departure.

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.weak_one_departure : parameterDepartures weakGrammar = 1

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_two_departures : parameterDepartures meFirstGrammar = 2

Me-first has 2 departures (prominence + domain).

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.proximate_from_interpretable_2nd : isInherentlyProximate Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = true

A polite pronoun with interpretable 2nd person is inherently [+PROXIMATE], triggering PCC effects in DO position.

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.polite_do_triggers_weak_pcc : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.second = false

PCC effect with polite pronoun in DO, 3rd person IO (Weak PCC).

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.agreement_person_wrongly_predicts_licit : pccLicit weakGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

Morphosyntactic accounts evaluate agreement person (3rd) → licit.

theorem Minimalism.PConstraint.mefirst_allows_3_3 : pccLicit meFirstGrammar Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third Core.Prominence.PersonLevel.third = true

Me-first grammar cannot exhibit *<3,3> effects: the domain restriction exempts ⟨3,3⟩ combinations entirely.