Syntax Proposes, Prosody Decides: On Lithuanian Si

Abstract

We develop a syntactic-prosodic account of the linearization of the Lithuanian reflexive si, which may appear as a prefix or a suffix. Syntax linearizes si as left-adjacent to the verb. If no other prefix is present, however, the prosodic component ensures si ends up suffixed to the base, so that it avoids the left edge of a maximal prosodic word. The variable linearization of si falls together with that of other prosodically sensitive elements crosslinguistically. We show the empirical inadequacy of previous morphological and syntactic accounts, and we explore predictions related to morphological cycles and segmental phonology.