Topics in imperatives
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Hilda Koopman
Abstract
This paper examines the left and right periphery in Dutch imperatives. Rightperipheral objects in Dutch imperatives are argued to arise from the interaction of leftward topicalisation into the left periphery, inversion and topic drop, licensed under movement of the verb to the Topic head. An examination of reconstruction effects establishes the movement characteristics of right-peripheral objects. Differences between the reduced left periphery of Dutch (only a dropped topic is allowed to precede the imperative verb) and German (one overt topic may precede the imperative) are argued to be due to the landing site of the imperative verb form, and slightly different pied-piping confi gurations which allow an imperative verb to “type” imperative force.
Abstract
This paper examines the left and right periphery in Dutch imperatives. Rightperipheral objects in Dutch imperatives are argued to arise from the interaction of leftward topicalisation into the left periphery, inversion and topic drop, licensed under movement of the verb to the Topic head. An examination of reconstruction effects establishes the movement characteristics of right-peripheral objects. Differences between the reduced left periphery of Dutch (only a dropped topic is allowed to precede the imperative verb) and German (one overt topic may precede the imperative) are argued to be due to the landing site of the imperative verb form, and slightly different pied-piping confi gurations which allow an imperative verb to “type” imperative force.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Imperative clauses in generative grammar 1
- On the periphery of imperative and declarative clauses in Dutch and German 95
- Featuring the subject in Dutch imperatives 113
- Clitic climbing in Spanish imperatives 135
- Topics in imperatives 153
- Embedded imperatives 181
- How to say no and don’t 205
- Analysing word order in the English imperative 251
- On participial imperatives 273
- ‘Inverted’ imperatives 297
- Pronominal clitics and imperatives in South Slavic 323
- Index of languages 341
- Index of names 343
- Index of subjects 347
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Imperative clauses in generative grammar 1
- On the periphery of imperative and declarative clauses in Dutch and German 95
- Featuring the subject in Dutch imperatives 113
- Clitic climbing in Spanish imperatives 135
- Topics in imperatives 153
- Embedded imperatives 181
- How to say no and don’t 205
- Analysing word order in the English imperative 251
- On participial imperatives 273
- ‘Inverted’ imperatives 297
- Pronominal clitics and imperatives in South Slavic 323
- Index of languages 341
- Index of names 343
- Index of subjects 347
