Referentiality in D-nominalizations
There are two types of nominalizations: those formed by the nominalizer n and those formed by D. The latter type involves a fully verbal structure prior to being nominalized by D. As a result, the DP layer serves distinct functions in the two types. This talk focuses on a property closely tied to the DP layer: referentiality. Specifically, it asks: are D-nominalizations referential, and in what sense? I will demonstrate that the two verbal gerunds in English, POSS-ing (Justin's/his smashing his laptop) and ACC-ing (Justin/him smashing his laptop), despite their similarities in surface form, distribution and meaning, are differentiated by their referential properties. I will then compare how referentiality operates in POSS-ing with the same concept in the clausal domain. Finally, I will explore the semantic and pragmatic implications of referentiality and its formal representation.