Qumran Hebrew as a null subject language

In the principles and parameters approach of Chomskyan generative grammar, the initial state of language represents a system of innate formal principles with associated open parameters, the values of which are fixed by linguistic experience. The aim of this article is firstly to identify for Qumran Hebrew the parameter that is associated with the manifestation of clausal subjects, and secondly to determine the value of this parameter. It is argued that Qumran Hebrew is a null subject language. According to the particular version of the null subject parameter proposed in this article, it is assumed that in Qumran Hebrew AGR is to be identified as PRO. It licenses pro in the empty subject position. Four considerations support this proposal. The first concerns the identification and analysis of modals as main verbs. The second concerns the absence of inversion (i.e. I movement) in direct yes/no questions. The third consideration concerns the absence of the copula in nominal sentences, and the fourth the absence of expletives in Qumran Hebrew.