Abstract

In the field of ellipsis in coordination, the possibility to elide at the right edge of the first conjunct under (phonological) identity with material in the second conjunct can be regarded as communis opinio. The main concern of this article is to show instead that this hypothesis is in need of refinement and has to be substituted by a gradual view: For Linkstilgung in German, the condition of Phonological Quasi-Identity applies. In addition to this, I want to identify a range of factors that need to be included, as not all grammatical features tolerate exceptions to strict phonological identity in the same way. Nevertheless, we have to remain sceptic about the identification of one single constraining factor: Neither the reference to phonology, nor to syntax or pragmatics alone can account for all cases of Linkstilgung and related phenomena.