Phase-based account of extraction in Indonesian

This paper presents an analysis of the restriction in standard Indonesian that only subjects are allowed to undergo A’-extraction. The specific proposal, grounded in the theory of Multiple Spell-Out, is that the feature bundle inserted in v and spelled out as the active prefix meN- cannot include an EPP feature, thereby preventing objects from moving out of VP in active clauses. This paper further explores the deeper motivation for this restriction and shows that meN- is a historical remnant of an earlier antipassive marker. This allows some seemingly anomalous aspects of Indonesian syntax to be integrated into a broader analysis of ergativity and Austronesian typology.