ON THE SPECIAL PRONOUNTAIN THE WUHAN DIALECT OF CHINESE: A RESUMPTIVE ANALYSIS^*

Abstract

In this article, I will investigate a special pronoun Ta that appears in the postverbal thematic position of various constructions in the Wuhan dialect of Chinese. I will argue that all the sentences containing Ta can be unified under an Agree‐based resumptive analysis. More specifically, I will claim that Ta, differing from the regular pronouns, is φ‐feature deprived (or a weak pronoun), which is the reason why the pronoun can function as a resumptive pronoun in ba‐constructions (a case of A‐resumption) on a par with A‐traces/copies. Furthermore, I will argue that the completion‐inducing effect of Ta does not necessarily entail that Ta is an aspectual marker; rather, the effect is due to the exceptional omission of the telicizing verb particle inside the small clause; therefore, Ta remains to be a resumptive pronoun throughout.