TRACNG THE ORIGIN OF PRO THROUGH EQUI NP DELETION

Abstract

This study examines the syntactic development of the null subject
of infinitival clauses known as PRO, through the transformational
process of Equi NP Deletion. Its emergence was traced by analysing
data from four languages and exploring its relationship with control
structures and infinitival clauses. The data for the study were
sourced both primarily and secondarily from five languages -
English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Goemai. Responses from
native speakers using the purposive sampling technique of the nonprobability sampling method and sentences from textbooks and
journal articles were used as data for the research. The research
reveals that Equi NP Deletion, and the Extended Projection
Principle are crucial in the formation, distribution, referencing and
interpretation of PRO. The study acknowledges the existence of
PRO in some Nigerian languages, especially Goemai. PRO in
Goemai can be controlled by the subject of a matrix, object of a
matrix clause, and can be arbitrarily controlled. Tracing the
development of PRO through Equi NP Deletions shows the
dynamic nature of linguistic theory and demonstrates the
importance of revisiting and reevaluating concepts in linguistics to
simplify some complexities in the study of language.