Why German is not an SVO-language but an SOV-language with V2

Sten Vikner

doi:10.7146/aul.322.218

Why German is not an SVO-language but an SOV-language with V2

Sten Vikner

School of Communication and Culture - English

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This paper will take as its starting point the widely assumed distinction
between SVO-languages and SOV-languages, with a particular focus
on German as compared to English and to Danish. It will be argued that
German (and Dutch, Frisian and Old English) is an SOV-language whereas
Danish and English (and Icelandic) are SVO-languages, even though
several orders may be found inside each of these languages. It will also
be shown where the verb second (V2) property fits in, which is common
to German and Danish (and Old English), but only found in (present-day)
English to a much smaller extent.
The differences between this analysis and two other analyses will also
be discussed, namely the analysis in Greenberg (1963) and Bohn (1983)
that both German and English are SVO-languages, and the analysis in
Bohn (2003) that German is SVO in main clauses but SOV in subordinate
clauses.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	A Sound Approach to Language Matters : In Honour of Ocke-Schwen Bohn
Editors	Anne Mette Nyvad
Number of pages	11
Place of publication	Aarhus
Publisher	AU Library Scholarly Publishing Services
Publication date	2019
Pages	437-447
ISBN (Electronic)	978-87-7507-440-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7146/aul.322.218
Publication status	Published - 2019

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10.7146/aul.322.218

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Similarities and Differences between Clauses and Nominals - Comparative Syntax across Theoretical Approaches
Vikner, S. (Project manager), Engels, E. (Participant), Krogh, S. (Participant), Nølke, H. (Participant), Tafteberg, K. P. (Participant) & Wood, J. (Participant)
01/02/2008 → 31/12/2012
Project: Research
Object positions - Comparative linguistics in a cross-theoretical perspective
Jørgensen, H. J. (Project manager), Vikner, S. (Project manager), Bjerre, T. (Participant) & Engels, E. (Participant)
01/04/2005 → 30/06/2007
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Why German is not an SVO-language but an SOV-language with V2",

abstract = "This paper will take as its starting point the widely assumed distinction between SVO-languages and SOV-languages, with a particular focus on German as compared to English and to Danish. It will be argued that German (and Dutch, Frisian and Old English) is an SOV-language whereas Danish and English (and Icelandic) are SVO-languages, even though several orders may be found inside each of these languages. It will also be shown where the verb second (V2) property fits in, which is common to German and Danish (and Old English), but only found in (present-day) English to a much smaller extent. The differences between this analysis and two other analyses will also be discussed, namely the analysis in Greenberg (1963) and Bohn (1983) that both German and English are SVO-languages, and the analysis in Bohn (2003) that German is SVO in main clauses but SOV in subordinate clauses.",

author = "Sten Vikner",

year = "2019",

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AB - This paper will take as its starting point the widely assumed distinction between SVO-languages and SOV-languages, with a particular focus on German as compared to English and to Danish. It will be argued that German (and Dutch, Frisian and Old English) is an SOV-language whereas Danish and English (and Icelandic) are SVO-languages, even though several orders may be found inside each of these languages. It will also be shown where the verb second (V2) property fits in, which is common to German and Danish (and Old English), but only found in (present-day) English to a much smaller extent. The differences between this analysis and two other analyses will also be discussed, namely the analysis in Greenberg (1963) and Bohn (1983) that both German and English are SVO-languages, and the analysis in Bohn (2003) that German is SVO in main clauses but SOV in subordinate clauses.

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DO - 10.7146/aul.322.218

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A2 - Nyvad, Anne Mette

PB - AU Library Scholarly Publishing Services

CY - Aarhus

ER -

Why German is not an SVO-language but an SOV-language with V2

Abstract

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Projects

Similarities and Differences between Clauses and Nominals - Comparative Syntax across Theoretical Approaches

Object positions - Comparative linguistics in a cross-theoretical perspective

Cite this