Chapter 6. The role of (the avoidance of) centre embedding in the change from OV to VO in English
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Rodrigo Pérez Lorido
Abstract
Authors from Colman (1988) to Ogura (2001, 2004) have discussed the role of Relative Clause Extraposition as a means to avoid centre-embedded structures in Old English, and its relevance as a factor in the change from OV to VO word order, but to date no study has addressed the full extent to which clausal embedding is allowed in Old English, the contexts for its application or its quantitative limits. Based on an extensive corpus analysis, this paper provides evidence about the factors (both language internal and external) that interact in the generation of centre-embedded structures in Old English while providing a reassessment of the role the avoidance of this kind of structures played in the change from OV to VO.
Abstract
Authors from Colman (1988) to Ogura (2001, 2004) have discussed the role of Relative Clause Extraposition as a means to avoid centre-embedded structures in Old English, and its relevance as a factor in the change from OV to VO word order, but to date no study has addressed the full extent to which clausal embedding is allowed in Old English, the contexts for its application or its quantitative limits. Based on an extensive corpus analysis, this paper provides evidence about the factors (both language internal and external) that interact in the generation of centre-embedded structures in Old English while providing a reassessment of the role the avoidance of this kind of structures played in the change from OV to VO.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Phonology and morphology
- Chapter 1. Grimm’s Law and Verner’s Law 15
- Chapter 2. The foot in the history of English 41
- Chapter 3. Ambiguity resolution and the evolution of homophones in English 61
- Chapter 4. The threshold of productivity and the ‘irregularization’ of verbs in Early Modern English 91
-
Part II. Syntax
- Chapter 5. The reanalysis of VO in the history of English 115
- Chapter 6. The role of (the avoidance of) centre embedding in the change from OV to VO in English 137
- Chapter 7. Syntactic changes in verbal clauses and noun phrases from 1500 onwards 163
- Chapter 8. Prepositions in Early Modern English argument structure and beyond 201
- Chapter 9. Should with non-past reference 225
- Chapter 10. Shifting responsibility in passing information 245
-
Part III. Semantics and pragmatics
- Chapter 11. Theatrical practices and grammatical standardization in eighteenth-century Britain 263
- Chapter 12. Towards a companionate marriage in Late Modern England? 287
- Chapter 13. On the development of OE swā to ModE so and related changes in an atypical group of demonstratives 309
- Index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Phonology and morphology
- Chapter 1. Grimm’s Law and Verner’s Law 15
- Chapter 2. The foot in the history of English 41
- Chapter 3. Ambiguity resolution and the evolution of homophones in English 61
- Chapter 4. The threshold of productivity and the ‘irregularization’ of verbs in Early Modern English 91
-
Part II. Syntax
- Chapter 5. The reanalysis of VO in the history of English 115
- Chapter 6. The role of (the avoidance of) centre embedding in the change from OV to VO in English 137
- Chapter 7. Syntactic changes in verbal clauses and noun phrases from 1500 onwards 163
- Chapter 8. Prepositions in Early Modern English argument structure and beyond 201
- Chapter 9. Should with non-past reference 225
- Chapter 10. Shifting responsibility in passing information 245
-
Part III. Semantics and pragmatics
- Chapter 11. Theatrical practices and grammatical standardization in eighteenth-century Britain 263
- Chapter 12. Towards a companionate marriage in Late Modern England? 287
- Chapter 13. On the development of OE swā to ModE so and related changes in an atypical group of demonstratives 309
- Index 345
