Verb movement and expletive subjects in the Germanic languages

Sten Vikner

Verb movement and expletive subjects in the Germanic languages

Publikation: Bog/antologi/afhandling/rapport › Bog › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

In the Germanic langauges, the finite verb may undergo one, both, or none of the following kinds of movement: movement to I°, which is found in all finite clauses; and movement to C°, also known as "Verb Second" (V2), which in most Germanic languages takes place in the main clause.
In this study, Vikner examines the considerable variation found across the Germanic languages concerning these two verb movements. He goes on to link it to another cross-Germanic variaion – one which concerns the possible positions of the "logical" subject in sentences with expletive, or "dummy" subjects, such as "there" in the sentence "There were only three people in the audience". Vikner argues that the possibility (or impossibility) of various positions of the "logical" subject depends upon which of the two verb movements may be found in the language in question.
Showing how the theory of principles and parameters contributes to the study of comparative syntax, Vikner considers several languages, including some less often discussed: Danish, Faroese, Icelandic and Yiddish. His study will be of considerable interest to scholars and students of general and Germanic linguistics and philology as well as comparative syntax.

Originalsprog	Engelsk

Udgivelsessted	Oxford
Forlag	Oxford University Press
Antal sider	294
ISBN (Trykt)	0195083938, 0195083946
Status	Udgivet - 1995
Udgivet eksternt	Ja

Navn	Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax

Citationsformater

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abstract = "In the Germanic langauges, the finite verb may undergo one, both, or none of the following kinds of movement: movement to I°, which is found in all finite clauses; and movement to C°, also known as {"}Verb Second{"} (V2), which in most Germanic languages takes place in the main clause. In this study, Vikner examines the considerable variation found across the Germanic languages concerning these two verb movements. He goes on to link it to another cross-Germanic variaion – one which concerns the possible positions of the {"}logical{"} subject in sentences with expletive, or {"}dummy{"} subjects, such as {"}there{"} in the sentence {"}There were only three people in the audience{"}. Vikner argues that the possibility (or impossibility) of various positions of the {"}logical{"} subject depends upon which of the two verb movements may be found in the language in question. Showing how the theory of principles and parameters contributes to the study of comparative syntax, Vikner considers several languages, including some less often discussed: Danish, Faroese, Icelandic and Yiddish. His study will be of considerable interest to scholars and students of general and Germanic linguistics and philology as well as comparative syntax.",

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AB - In the Germanic langauges, the finite verb may undergo one, both, or none of the following kinds of movement: movement to I°, which is found in all finite clauses; and movement to C°, also known as "Verb Second" (V2), which in most Germanic languages takes place in the main clause. In this study, Vikner examines the considerable variation found across the Germanic languages concerning these two verb movements. He goes on to link it to another cross-Germanic variaion – one which concerns the possible positions of the "logical" subject in sentences with expletive, or "dummy" subjects, such as "there" in the sentence "There were only three people in the audience". Vikner argues that the possibility (or impossibility) of various positions of the "logical" subject depends upon which of the two verb movements may be found in the language in question. Showing how the theory of principles and parameters contributes to the study of comparative syntax, Vikner considers several languages, including some less often discussed: Danish, Faroese, Icelandic and Yiddish. His study will be of considerable interest to scholars and students of general and Germanic linguistics and philology as well as comparative syntax.

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