Locating variation in the dative alternation

Abstract

This paper explores the locus of variation in the dative alternation in dialects of Northwest British English. Pronominal theme passives of apparent double object constructions (e.g. It was given her) are a well-known feature of Northwest English dialects. Detailed investigation reveals restrictions on the availability of theme passives vary systematically in different varieties, however. The paper focuses on Liverpool English, where theme passivisation is shown to derive from a prepositional dative with a null preposition; the availability of this ‘prepositiondrop’ is argued to be a product of morpho-syntactic innovation, rather than of PF-variability. Liverpool English is contrasted with Manchester English, where theme passivisation derives from double object constructions (Haddican 2010), argued to be available thanks to an extra functional head within the vP shell in double object constructions (Haddican and Holmberg 2012). Micro-variation in the morpho-syntax of adpositions vs. verbs correctly yields systematic differences in Northwest varieties, including (a) the class of the ditransitive verb that can participate in theme passives, (b) restrictions on the compatibility of certain goal arguments with theme passivisation, and (c) the type of theme argument that may undergo passivisation; these properties do not follow if variation is located in a post-syntactic domain.