Syntax and semantics of the swarm alternation
In this talk, we develop the first explicit analysis of the syntax and semantics of the “swarm” alternation's non-base alternant as in “The garden is swarming with bees” (as opposed to “Bees are swarming in the garden”). We assume a pluractional head and a standard VP and vP implementation in terms of causation, with a result state small clause or a predicative phrase, before the location subject gets merged in VoiceP. The observed holistic effect is ascribed to the preposition “with”. Moreover, our analysis is the first to identify not-at-issue content above the TP of the non-base alternant: scalar evaluation and mirativity. We conclude with the hunch that not-at-issue content is more widespread in argument alternations than previously thought.