Overt and non-overt NPs in Luganda

The syntax of Luganda NPs has not received enough attention, neither in academic papers nor in Luganda grammar books. This paper attempts to offer an in-depth study of Luganda NPs within the framework of Chomskyʹs Principles and Parameters approach. In a language with a rich concord system and where noun classes play a central role in the sentence, the study of NPs in Luganda is of paramount importance. In this paper, it is argued that NPs in Luganda are divided into two major types: overt and non-overt. The author posits that, with the exception of the reflexive infix, anaphors and R-expressions are subject to Principle A and Principle C of the binding theory respectively. The paper also argues that obligatory and optional control are common in Luganda and that PRO can be controlled or arbitrary. The author also maintains that Luganda is a pro-drop language and argues that there are three types of null subjects. Moved overt and non-overt NPs are discussed in depth as the author argues that only moved overt NPs leave traces behind.