Asymmetric coordinations in Old Portuguese

Abstract

This paper takes into account some asymmetries found in Medieval Portuguese coordinate structures containing infinitival clauses. These are cases of coordination of a non-inflected infinitive with an inflected one and cases of apparent extraction of an element from the first clause of a coordinate structure. Both asymmetries can be eliminated if we assume that the coordination takes place at a higher structural level than that of the infinitival clauses; however, this solution entails that we have to postulate a gap in the second conjunct with the ellipsis of some elements (and/or the presence of some abstract elements) recoverable on the basis of elements expressed in the first conjunct. We show that only this more abstract hypothesis can explain in a direct manner the data examined in this work.