Ni: Dative Case Marker or Postposition

Abstract

This paper proposes a consistent analysis of the suffix/particle ni in Japanese as a dative Case marker, contrary to previous analyses which suggest that ni is ambiguous between a dative Case marker and a postposition (cf. Sadakane and Koizumi 1995). Examining the behavior of ni in nominalized clauses, I provide a new analysis for ni-marked DPs, which may lead to new perspectives for the discussion of the Japanese Case marking system. I also suggest some new ideas for the derivation of nominalization structures.