Prenominal and postnominal demonstratives in Spanish: a [± deictic] approach

Abstract

In this paper I propose an explanation for the difference in meaning and in structure between the prenominal and the postnominal demonstratives in Spanish, and its complimentary distribution with the article in prenominal position. The literature had traditionally considered that there was a difference only in structure, although Bernstein (1997) points out that the postnominal one does not have a deictic meaning. I propose that it is the feature [+deictic] which triggers the raising of the demonstrative to Dº, in order to check the [+Ref] feature present in this position. The postnominal demonstrative is marked [-deictic], what prevents it from moving, and forces the appearance of the expletive article in Dº.