Inside and outside – Before and after
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Alexander Pfaff
Abstract
Icelandic has four (definite) article – adjective – noun patterns. In this paper, I present novel data, and put “old” data in a new perspective. I will argue that weakly inflected adjectives (patterns I – III) are merged inside the DP below the definite article, whereas strongly inflected adjectives (pattern IV) are merged outside DP, at least above the definite article. What distinguishes the weak patterns visibly is whether the adjective/(adjective plus) noun occurs before or after the article. Some researchers surmise that “non-restrictive adjectives are only direct modifiers and restrictive ones only indirect modifiers” (Cinque 2010: 140). Strong pattern (IV) adjectives are never restrictive, whereas certain weak adjectives may be. Against expectations, I will argue that weak adjectives in Icelandic are direct modifiers, whereas strong adjectives are indirect modifiers. I suggest that the criterion ± restrictive as such may not be relevant to properly characterize Icelandic adjectival patterns.
Abstract
Icelandic has four (definite) article – adjective – noun patterns. In this paper, I present novel data, and put “old” data in a new perspective. I will argue that weakly inflected adjectives (patterns I – III) are merged inside the DP below the definite article, whereas strongly inflected adjectives (pattern IV) are merged outside DP, at least above the definite article. What distinguishes the weak patterns visibly is whether the adjective/(adjective plus) noun occurs before or after the article. Some researchers surmise that “non-restrictive adjectives are only direct modifiers and restrictive ones only indirect modifiers” (Cinque 2010: 140). Strong pattern (IV) adjectives are never restrictive, whereas certain weak adjectives may be. Against expectations, I will argue that weak adjectives in Icelandic are direct modifiers, whereas strong adjectives are indirect modifiers. I suggest that the criterion ± restrictive as such may not be relevant to properly characterize Icelandic adjectival patterns.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- The adjective in Germanic and Romance 1
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Part I: Change
- The adjective-adverb interface in Romance and English 35
- The position proper of the adjective in Middle English 73
- Strong and weak adjectives in Old Swedish 95
- The resilient nature of adjectival inflection in Dutch 113
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Part II: Variation
- On the properties of attributive phrases in Germanic (and beyond) 149
- From participle to adjective in Germanic and Romance 171
- The mixed categorial behavior of cel + participle in Romanian 199
- Inside and outside – Before and after 217
- Adjectives in German and Norwegian 245
- Cross-linguistic variation in agreement on Germanic predicate adjectives 263
- Author Index 279
- Subject Index 283
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- The adjective in Germanic and Romance 1
-
Part I: Change
- The adjective-adverb interface in Romance and English 35
- The position proper of the adjective in Middle English 73
- Strong and weak adjectives in Old Swedish 95
- The resilient nature of adjectival inflection in Dutch 113
-
Part II: Variation
- On the properties of attributive phrases in Germanic (and beyond) 149
- From participle to adjective in Germanic and Romance 171
- The mixed categorial behavior of cel + participle in Romanian 199
- Inside and outside – Before and after 217
- Adjectives in German and Norwegian 245
- Cross-linguistic variation in agreement on Germanic predicate adjectives 263
- Author Index 279
- Subject Index 283
