Abstract
In this dissertation, I want to discuss a certain set of interrelated phenomena in Danish and other Germanic languages. What I am interested in is the position of the finite verb, the factors that determine this verb-position, and the consequences that the choice of position has for other phenomena. I shall be particularly concerned with NPs appearing in what you might call "unusual" NP-positions. By using the term "unusual", I want toe xclude NP-positions such as the complement of a transitive verb, the complement of a preposition, and the standard subject position. I will be looking into which other positions NPs may occupy, and how they depend on certain verb movements either taking place in the same sentence, or at least being possible in the language in question.
The thesis is organised as follows: In chapter 1, I briefly introduce the theoretical background for my study, and discuss a number of definitions central to the following chapters. In chapter 2, I discuss the two kinds of movement of the finite verb found in the Germanic languages: Verb Second (V2) and V-to-I movement, and their distribution across the Germanic languages. (French (and to some extent Italian) is sometimes included into the discussion, in order to complete the picture, as there is no Germanic language which has V-to-I movement but lacks V2). In chapter 3, constructions with expletive subjects will be treated. The main part of the discussion is concerned with the possible position of the NP that "would have" occurred in the subject position, had this not been occupied by the expletive. I will however also discuss the difference between the two possible expletive subjects it and there, and finally a use of there particular to Danish, viz. in relative clauses. In chapter 4, the topic is object shift and scrambling, two related constructions in which objects may move to the left under certain conditions. These conditions will also be shown to be dependent on the position of the finite verb.
The thesis is organised as follows: In chapter 1, I briefly introduce the theoretical background for my study, and discuss a number of definitions central to the following chapters. In chapter 2, I discuss the two kinds of movement of the finite verb found in the Germanic languages: Verb Second (V2) and V-to-I movement, and their distribution across the Germanic languages. (French (and to some extent Italian) is sometimes included into the discussion, in order to complete the picture, as there is no Germanic language which has V-to-I movement but lacks V2). In chapter 3, constructions with expletive subjects will be treated. The main part of the discussion is concerned with the possible position of the NP that "would have" occurred in the subject position, had this not been occupied by the expletive. I will however also discuss the difference between the two possible expletive subjects it and there, and finally a use of there particular to Danish, viz. in relative clauses. In chapter 4, the topic is object shift and scrambling, two related constructions in which objects may move to the left under certain conditions. These conditions will also be shown to be dependent on the position of the finite verb.
| Original language | English |
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| Number of pages | 264 |
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| Publication status | Unpublished - 1990 |