VIOLATIONS OF SYMMETRY IN COORDINATED STRUCTURES IN ROMANIAN
VIOLATIONS OF SYMMETRY IN COORDINATED STRUCTURES IN ROMANIAN

Summary/Abstract: This paper investigates the principle of symmetry in semantics and syntax within coordinated structures in Romanian. Although the conjoins in a coordinate complex are generally assumed to be symmetrical from both a semantic and a syntactic point of view (see Culicover and Jackendoff 1997, Mayr 2017) there are many instances of asymmetrical coordination. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it defines the necessary conditions for symmetry, distinguishing between semantic symmetry, syntactic symmetry and substitutability. Second, the study examines instances where these symmetricity principles are not followed. In semantics, issues related to temporal and conditional clauses and pseudo-coordination are discussed and exemplified. In syntax, we discuss how agreement mismatches and selectional requirements and the coordination of different elements, can disrupt symmetry. This work attempts to clarify how symmetry operates in language and the exceptions that challenge these patterns, allowing for an overall understanding of the vastness of this phenomenon.

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