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Chapter 4. Finiteness and verb fronting

  • Germen J. de Haan
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Studies in West Frisian Grammar
This chapter is in the book Studies in West Frisian Grammar

Abstract

Distributional properties of the verb in Germanic languages have to be accounted for by a rule that moves a verb into sentence initial position (‘verb second/V2’). Traditionally it is claimed that this rule applies exclusively to finite verbs in main sentences. In this paper, we will discuss some phenomena in West Frisian that lead to some new proposals with respect to the factors that are involved in V2. A major role in our exposition is played by the so-called Frisian ‘en+imperative’ construction. We will argue that an account for the properties of this construction lead to a reconsideration of some of the factors relevant for V2: finiteness, the obligatoriness of verb movement and the distinction between main and embedded clauses.

Abstract

Distributional properties of the verb in Germanic languages have to be accounted for by a rule that moves a verb into sentence initial position (‘verb second/V2’). Traditionally it is claimed that this rule applies exclusively to finite verbs in main sentences. In this paper, we will discuss some phenomena in West Frisian that lead to some new proposals with respect to the factors that are involved in V2. A major role in our exposition is played by the so-called Frisian ‘en+imperative’ construction. We will argue that an account for the properties of this construction lead to a reconsideration of some of the factors relevant for V2: finiteness, the obligatoriness of verb movement and the distinction between main and embedded clauses.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 1. Recent trends in Frisian linguistics 11
  5. Chapter 2. Why Old Frisian is really Middle Frisian 25
  6. Chapter 3. Syntax of Old Frisian 47
  7. Chapter 4. Finiteness and verb fronting 63
  8. Chapter 5. More is going on upstairs than downstairs 99
  9. Chapter 6. The Imperativus-pro-Infinitivo 131
  10. Chapter 7. Two infinitives 153
  11. Chapter 8. The verbal complex 165
  12. Chapter 9. The third construction 199
  13. Chapter 10. Complementizer agreement 215
  14. Chapter 11. Grammatical borrowing and language change 233
  15. Chapter 12. Frisian language changes 251
  16. Chapter 13. Recent changes in the verbal complex of Frisian 265
  17. Chapter 14. Contact-induced changes in Modern West Frisian 275
  18. Chapter 15. On the (in-)stability of Frisian 301
  19. Chapter 16. Nasalization and lengthening 317
  20. Chapter 17. Monophthongs and syllable structure 331
  21. Chapter 18. A lexical theory of schwa-deletion 341
  22. References 357
  23. Acknowledgements 379
  24. Index 381
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.161.04fin

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 1. Recent trends in Frisian linguistics 11
  5. Chapter 2. Why Old Frisian is really Middle Frisian 25
  6. Chapter 3. Syntax of Old Frisian 47
  7. Chapter 4. Finiteness and verb fronting 63
  8. Chapter 5. More is going on upstairs than downstairs 99
  9. Chapter 6. The Imperativus-pro-Infinitivo 131
  10. Chapter 7. Two infinitives 153
  11. Chapter 8. The verbal complex 165
  12. Chapter 9. The third construction 199
  13. Chapter 10. Complementizer agreement 215
  14. Chapter 11. Grammatical borrowing and language change 233
  15. Chapter 12. Frisian language changes 251
  16. Chapter 13. Recent changes in the verbal complex of Frisian 265
  17. Chapter 14. Contact-induced changes in Modern West Frisian 275
  18. Chapter 15. On the (in-)stability of Frisian 301
  19. Chapter 16. Nasalization and lengthening 317
  20. Chapter 17. Monophthongs and syllable structure 331
  21. Chapter 18. A lexical theory of schwa-deletion 341
  22. References 357
  23. Acknowledgements 379
  24. Index 381
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