Prosodic constraints on extraposition in German
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Katharina Hartmann
Abstract
This article contributes to a better understanding of the syntax-phonology interface. It offers a prosodic trigger for extraposition which accounts for the following asymmetry: While extraposition of subject, adjunct and attributive clauses is optional in German, object clauses must appear in the right periphery of the clause. It is argued that the constituents following an object clause in its preverbal base-position cannot be a parsed into phonological phrases. Such a configuration causes a defective prosodic clause structure. This deficiency is resolved by extraposition, which derives a structure where the formerly unparsed constituents now incorporate into the preceding prosodic constituent. Extraposition is thus considered a last resort strategy.
Abstract
This article contributes to a better understanding of the syntax-phonology interface. It offers a prosodic trigger for extraposition which accounts for the following asymmetry: While extraposition of subject, adjunct and attributive clauses is optional in German, object clauses must appear in the right periphery of the clause. It is argued that the constituents following an object clause in its preverbal base-position cannot be a parsed into phonological phrases. Such a configuration causes a defective prosodic clause structure. This deficiency is resolved by extraposition, which derives a structure where the formerly unparsed constituents now incorporate into the preceding prosodic constituent. Extraposition is thus considered a last resort strategy.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction by the editors 1
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Part I. Empirical perspective
- Constraints on intra- and extraposition 63
- Subclausal locality constraints on relative clause extraposition 99
- Constraints on relative clause extraposition in English 145
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Part II. The Minimalist Perspective
- Rightward movement, EPP and specifiers 175
- Neglected cases of rightward movement 211
- Rightward movement from a different perspective 243
- Cumulative rightward processes 281
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Part III. Other Theoretical Perspectives
- A dynamic perspective on left-right asymmetries 321
- On the locality of complement clause and relative clause extraposition 369
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Part IV. The Prosodic Perspective
- Extraposition of defocused and light PPs in English 399
- Prosodic constraints on extraposition in German 439
- Index 473
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Introduction by the editors 1
-
Part I. Empirical perspective
- Constraints on intra- and extraposition 63
- Subclausal locality constraints on relative clause extraposition 99
- Constraints on relative clause extraposition in English 145
-
Part II. The Minimalist Perspective
- Rightward movement, EPP and specifiers 175
- Neglected cases of rightward movement 211
- Rightward movement from a different perspective 243
- Cumulative rightward processes 281
-
Part III. Other Theoretical Perspectives
- A dynamic perspective on left-right asymmetries 321
- On the locality of complement clause and relative clause extraposition 369
-
Part IV. The Prosodic Perspective
- Extraposition of defocused and light PPs in English 399
- Prosodic constraints on extraposition in German 439
- Index 473
