Se in French: Lexical and Transformational Approaches

Abstract

This paper attempts to show that distortions are introduced into a generative grammar of French if se is analysed as a purely lexical or as a purely transformational phenomenon.

Neither Kayne's (1975) derivation of se from a postverbal source nor Grimshaw's (1980) non-transformational lexical analysis can account for the full range of facts.

Kayne's solution requires postulating implausible sources for se, while Grimshaw's implies unwarranted extensions to the domain of strict subcategorization rules as well as unworkable rules of semantic interpretation.

Both rule types appear to be required in describing the syntax of the reflexive clitic pronoun.