From macroparameters to microparameters: A Bantu case study

Crosslinguistic variation in the Bantu languages provides evidence for a more finegrained model of parameter setting, ranging from macro- via meso- and micro-to nano-parametric variation, as proposed by Biberauer & Roberts (2015a). The various sizes of parametric variation in Bantu are discussed for word order, verb movement, ditransitive symmetry, locatives, and φ indexing in the clause. Taking a Minimalist featural perspective, the resulting emergent parameter settings and hierarchies are motivated by third-factor principles. The paper furthermore shows how macrovariation does not equal macroparametric variation.