On the interaction between word order and interpretation in the infinitival construction with the particle <i> бы</i>
In this paper I analyze the construction with an independent infinitive clause and the subjunctive particle бы in Russian. I show that this construction has evaluative meaning and is ambiguous depending on whether it expresses the point of view of the speaker or the dative subject. I propose an empirical generalization, according to which the latter interpretation can only arise with certain word orders, namely when the dative subject linearly precedes the subjunctive particle. I offer a tentative account of this generalization from the perspective of an approach in which pragmatic categories such as point of view are syntactically represented.