Relative clauses in Cimbrian
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Günther Grewendorf
Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of the left periphery of relative clauses in the Cimbrian variety of Luserna and explores which of the two complementizer systems Cimbrian makes use of in restrictive and appositive relative clauses. Furthermore, the sentential particle da (lit. ‘there’), which according to Bidese et al. (2012) is obligatory in restrictive relative clauses with a full DP subject, is shown to have a distribution and function different from its counterparts in Bavarian and Hessian. We argue that the Cimbrian da is neither a locative (as the form might suggest) nor a subject expletive located in SpecT similar to English ‘there’ (as suggested by Bayer & Suchsland 1997 for Bavarian), but the specifier of a projection located in the Wackernagel space marking the Ground context with respect to the head noun individuated by the relative clause.
Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of the left periphery of relative clauses in the Cimbrian variety of Luserna and explores which of the two complementizer systems Cimbrian makes use of in restrictive and appositive relative clauses. Furthermore, the sentential particle da (lit. ‘there’), which according to Bidese et al. (2012) is obligatory in restrictive relative clauses with a full DP subject, is shown to have a distribution and function different from its counterparts in Bavarian and Hessian. We argue that the Cimbrian da is neither a locative (as the form might suggest) nor a subject expletive located in SpecT similar to English ‘there’ (as suggested by Bayer & Suchsland 1997 for Bavarian), but the specifier of a projection located in the Wackernagel space marking the Ground context with respect to the head noun individuated by the relative clause.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction xi
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PART I. The Architecture of the Computational Component
- Problems of projection 3
- Notes on labeling and subject positions 17
- On a PP/DP asymmetry in extraction 47
- Augmentative, pejorative, diminutive and endearing heads in the extended nominal projection 67
- A note on parallels between agreement and intervention 83
- Locality effects in Italian verbal morphology 97
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PART II. The Realization of Structure Relative to Discourse and Referential Dependencies: Focus, the vP periphery, and pronominal reference
- Be careful how you use the left periphery 135
- Exhaustivity operators and fronted focus in Italian 163
- Some notes on clefting and fronting 181
- A case of focal adverb preposing in French 209
- Transferring strategies and the nature of transfer 237
- Resolving pronominal anaphora in real-time 257
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PART III. Complex clauses in linguistic theory and acquisition: The role of intervention
- On the comprehension and production of passive sentences and relative clauses by Italian university students with dyslexia 279
- Relatively easy relatives 303
- Intervention effects in the spontaneous production of relative clauses in (a)typical language development of French children and adolescents 321
- Minimality effects in children’s passives 343
- Subject intervention in free relatives 369
- Relative clauses in Cimbrian 393
- Index 417
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction xi
-
PART I. The Architecture of the Computational Component
- Problems of projection 3
- Notes on labeling and subject positions 17
- On a PP/DP asymmetry in extraction 47
- Augmentative, pejorative, diminutive and endearing heads in the extended nominal projection 67
- A note on parallels between agreement and intervention 83
- Locality effects in Italian verbal morphology 97
-
PART II. The Realization of Structure Relative to Discourse and Referential Dependencies: Focus, the vP periphery, and pronominal reference
- Be careful how you use the left periphery 135
- Exhaustivity operators and fronted focus in Italian 163
- Some notes on clefting and fronting 181
- A case of focal adverb preposing in French 209
- Transferring strategies and the nature of transfer 237
- Resolving pronominal anaphora in real-time 257
-
PART III. Complex clauses in linguistic theory and acquisition: The role of intervention
- On the comprehension and production of passive sentences and relative clauses by Italian university students with dyslexia 279
- Relatively easy relatives 303
- Intervention effects in the spontaneous production of relative clauses in (a)typical language development of French children and adolescents 321
- Minimality effects in children’s passives 343
- Subject intervention in free relatives 369
- Relative clauses in Cimbrian 393
- Index 417
