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Zur Kommasetzung im Deutschen

  • Martin Neef
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Abstract

This paper reconstructs the current comma placement in Germanwithin the framework of theModular Theory ofWriting Systems (cf. Neef 2005; 2015). For this purpose, three conditions are formulated, which - in the sense of a syntactic principle - provide certain markers for the syntactic constructions co-subordination, sentence, and infinitive phrase. The conditions are conceived as both inviolable and unordered and they apply to German in a language-specific way. The special feature of the conditions is that they are not conceived as comma rules, prescribing the placement of commas in certain positions. Rather, within the syntactic constructions certain positions are identified that require marking. The comma is only one of the marking options; it is the default, which is used if no other marking is present. In this way, all comma positions that are obligatory according to the currently valid norm are captured, and to a small extent also facultative ones. In favor of the simplicity of the explanation, other optional comma positions are considered a systematic complication and are ignored in the model.

Abstract

This paper reconstructs the current comma placement in Germanwithin the framework of theModular Theory ofWriting Systems (cf. Neef 2005; 2015). For this purpose, three conditions are formulated, which - in the sense of a syntactic principle - provide certain markers for the syntactic constructions co-subordination, sentence, and infinitive phrase. The conditions are conceived as both inviolable and unordered and they apply to German in a language-specific way. The special feature of the conditions is that they are not conceived as comma rules, prescribing the placement of commas in certain positions. Rather, within the syntactic constructions certain positions are identified that require marking. The comma is only one of the marking options; it is the default, which is used if no other marking is present. In this way, all comma positions that are obligatory according to the currently valid norm are captured, and to a small extent also facultative ones. In favor of the simplicity of the explanation, other optional comma positions are considered a systematic complication and are ignored in the model.

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