Licensing imperative subjects without an imperative operator

Abstract It is often assumed that imperatives contain a covert imperative licenser, such as an operator. The purpose of the operator to bind subject, and thereby derive number syntactic properties imperatives. In this paper, I show, based on variation in V2 varieties Dutch German, if there alternative way licensing presence not necessary. put forth novel observation are only allowed have verbal umlaut. argue umlaut corresponds encoding person features verb, which can subject. This voids need for SpecCP, gives languages like German. implication licenser last resort mechanism, rather than inherent part clauses.