The syntax - phonology interface

Clitic-doubled objects and subjects in Greek: A focal point of my research is the flow and processing of information between the components of Grammar and, especially, the question of whether phonology reflects differences in the processing of syntactic material. In joint work with Vassilios Spyropoulos, we investigate the consequences of the Multiple Spell-Out Hypothesis (Uriagereka 1999, Chomsky 2000, et seq.) for prosodic constituency based on evidence from the phrasing of clitic-doubled DP-objects and that of subjects in Greek. Continuing this line of work on the syntax-phonology interface, we also propose a novel approach to the derivation of subjects in Greek, which explains their distribution as a result of the processing of the syntactic output by the Phonological Component after Spell-Out.

Revithiadou, A. & V. Spyropoulos. 2009. A dynamic approach to the syntax-phonology interface: A case study of Greek. In InterPhases: Phase-theoretic Investigations of Linguistic Interfaces, Grohmann, K. (ed.), 202-233. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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Spyropoulos, V. & A. Revithiadou. 2009. Subject chains in Greek and PF processing. In Proceedings of the 2007 Workshop in Greek Syntax and Semantics at MIT, Halpert, C., J. Hartman & D. Hill (eds.), 293-309. MWPL, Cambridge, MA. [pdf, 429KB, Tip: For an extended version of this paper download this file, pdf, 432KB].

Weak object pronouns (clitics) in Greek: I have worked independently and in collaboration with V. Spyropoulos on a cross-dialectal typology of pronominal object clitics. The focus is on determining the filtering role that phonology exercises on syntax, and on constructing a theory that brings together the prosodic and syntactic aspects of second position effects exhibited by clitics in certain dialectal varieties (e.g. Cypriot, Symi Greek, etc.). A welcome result of the cross-dialectal perspective of second position phenomena is that it unveils hidden aspects of diachronic change and, more specifically, the mechanisms that are involved in the shift from a second to a non-second position system of weak pronominals.

Revithiadou, A. 2008. A cross-dialectal study of cliticization in Greek. In Lingua: Special Issue in memory of J.G. Kooij, Ewen, C. J., N. C. Kula and H. van der Hulst (eds.), 1393-1415.
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Revithiadou, A. & V. Spyropoulos 2008. Greek object clitic pronouns: A typological survey of their grammatical properties. STUF 61, 39-53. [pre-published version, pdf, 241KB]