Jespersen’s Cycle and the issue of prosodic ‘weakness’
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Patrizia Noel Aziz Hanna
Abstract
Jespersen’s Cycle (1917), according to which a negation particle is weakened and therefore later strengthened through an additional element, is a generally accepted explanation in language change. The German data, however, reveals that the weakening of the negation particle preceded the initiation of Jespersen’s Cycle by centuries. The further weakening caused the ineffi cacy of the old negation particle and thus initiated Jespersen’s Cycle. The reduction is demonstrated to result from segmental, prosodic, and syntactic factors. The progressive weakening of the negation particle (PIE *ne > OHG ni > MHG ne > NHG Ø) is due to the fact that its chances of attracting rhythmic stress became increasingly rare.
Abstract
Jespersen’s Cycle (1917), according to which a negation particle is weakened and therefore later strengthened through an additional element, is a generally accepted explanation in language change. The German data, however, reveals that the weakening of the negation particle preceded the initiation of Jespersen’s Cycle by centuries. The further weakening caused the ineffi cacy of the old negation particle and thus initiated Jespersen’s Cycle. The reduction is demonstrated to result from segmental, prosodic, and syntactic factors. The progressive weakening of the negation particle (PIE *ne > OHG ni > MHG ne > NHG Ø) is due to the fact that its chances of attracting rhythmic stress became increasingly rare.
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
