Re-identifying Null Arguments with Ellipsis: A Reply to Ahn and Cho (2013)

Abstract

Korean allows the null argument construction and is subject to a big debate on the issue of whether it involves pro or ellipsis. Contra Hoji (1998) and Ahn and Cho (2010; 2012a,b), Park and Bae (2012) propose a hybrid approach that both allows pro and ellipsis, and Park and Oh (2013) advocates the ellipsis approach. Recently Ahn and Cho (2013)argue against these approaches and for the pro approach, by claiming that ellipsis is only possible in generic contexts. In this paper, in line with the ellipsis/hybrid approach, we argue that Ahn and Cho's claim is not sustainable for the following reasons: First, the fact that ellipsis is possible, whether or not it has limited distribution, is indeed a problem for the pro approach. Second, the factual claim that ellipsis is only available in generic contexts is not correct. Finally, the validity of continuation test, which Ahn and Cho provide as a convincing argument for the pro approach, is questionable both theoretically and empirically.