Uncharted territory?
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Jan-Wouter Zwart
Abstract
This article discusses the consequences of a strictly derivational approach—where syntactic relations are construed dynamically as the derivation proceeds—to the analysis of key areas of Germanic syntax. It discusses the nature of syntactic positions from a non-cartographic point of view. Evidence supporting a non-cartographic approach is found in word order transitivity failures in various domains (the left periphery, the order of adverbs, the adjective-noun construction). The implications of a non-cartographic approach are discussed in four key areas of Germanic syntax (the fine structure of the left periphery, topicalization/focalization, subject placement and object placement).
Abstract
This article discusses the consequences of a strictly derivational approach—where syntactic relations are construed dynamically as the derivation proceeds—to the analysis of key areas of Germanic syntax. It discusses the nature of syntactic positions from a non-cartographic point of view. Evidence supporting a non-cartographic approach is found in word order transitivity failures in various domains (the left periphery, the order of adverbs, the adjective-noun construction). The implications of a non-cartographic approach are discussed in four key areas of Germanic syntax (the fine structure of the left periphery, topicalization/focalization, subject placement and object placement).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Advances in Comparative Germanic Syntax vii
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Part I. Cartography and the left periphery
- On a ( wh -)moved Topic in Italian, compared to Germanic 3
- C-agreement or something close to it 41
- Uncharted territory? 59
- Bootstrapping verb movement and the clausal architecture of German (and other languages) 85
- A conjunction conspiracy at the West Germanic left periphery 119
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Part II. Word order and movement
- Reconsidering odd coordination in German 151
- The syntax and semantics of the temporal anaphor “then” in Old and Middle English 171
- Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’ 197
- Holmberg’s Generalization 219
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Part III. Thematic relations and NP realization
- The No Case Generalization 249
- The new impersonal as a true passive 281
- Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase 307
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Part IV. Finiteness and modality
- Experiencers with (un)willingness 327
- Finiteness 357
- Index of subjects & languages 391
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Advances in Comparative Germanic Syntax vii
-
Part I. Cartography and the left periphery
- On a ( wh -)moved Topic in Italian, compared to Germanic 3
- C-agreement or something close to it 41
- Uncharted territory? 59
- Bootstrapping verb movement and the clausal architecture of German (and other languages) 85
- A conjunction conspiracy at the West Germanic left periphery 119
-
Part II. Word order and movement
- Reconsidering odd coordination in German 151
- The syntax and semantics of the temporal anaphor “then” in Old and Middle English 171
- Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’ 197
- Holmberg’s Generalization 219
-
Part III. Thematic relations and NP realization
- The No Case Generalization 249
- The new impersonal as a true passive 281
- Anaphoric distribution in the prepositional phrase 307
-
Part IV. Finiteness and modality
- Experiencers with (un)willingness 327
- Finiteness 357
- Index of subjects & languages 391
