Chapter 3. Apparent competing agreement patterns in Middle Low German non-restrictive relative clauses with a first or second person head
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Melissa Farasyn
Abstract
This paper updates Farasyn (2017), who charted the agreement patterns found in Middle Low German (non-restrictive) relative clauses with a first or second person head. In related West Germanic languages, these clauses show different types of agreement patterns. This study presents new corpus data illustrating how Middle Low German compares to these. Expanding on Farasyn (2017), it investigates the historical development and elements introducing the relative clause, showing that φ-features in older stages of the West Germanic languages are always encoded in the non-restrictive relative clause, though often in different positions. Middle Low German displays a remarkable stability in retaining a covert resumptive pronoun bearing φ-features. An apparent competing pattern with an overt resumptive is a later innovation, as are structures with third person agreement found in neighboring languages.
Abstract
This paper updates Farasyn (2017), who charted the agreement patterns found in Middle Low German (non-restrictive) relative clauses with a first or second person head. In related West Germanic languages, these clauses show different types of agreement patterns. This study presents new corpus data illustrating how Middle Low German compares to these. Expanding on Farasyn (2017), it investigates the historical development and elements introducing the relative clause, showing that φ-features in older stages of the West Germanic languages are always encoded in the non-restrictive relative clause, though often in different positions. Middle Low German displays a remarkable stability in retaining a covert resumptive pronoun bearing φ-features. An apparent competing pattern with an overt resumptive is a later innovation, as are structures with third person agreement found in neighboring languages.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. The determinants of diachronic stability 1
- Chapter 2. Gender stability, gender loss 11
- Chapter 3. Apparent competing agreement patterns in Middle Low German non-restrictive relative clauses with a first or second person head 39
- Chapter 4. Stability and change in Icelandic weather verbs 69
- Chapter 5. Disharmony in harmony with diachronic stability 101
- Chapter 6. Against V2 in Old Spanish 131
- Chapter 7. V1 clauses in Old Catalan 157
- Chapter 8. Competition, stability and change in the emergence of Brazilian Portuguese 191
- Chapter 9. What is a diachronically stable system in a language-contact situation? 215
- Chapter 10. A variational theory of specialization in acquisition and diachrony 245
- Chapter 11. Stable variation in multidimensional competition 263
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. The determinants of diachronic stability 1
- Chapter 2. Gender stability, gender loss 11
- Chapter 3. Apparent competing agreement patterns in Middle Low German non-restrictive relative clauses with a first or second person head 39
- Chapter 4. Stability and change in Icelandic weather verbs 69
- Chapter 5. Disharmony in harmony with diachronic stability 101
- Chapter 6. Against V2 in Old Spanish 131
- Chapter 7. V1 clauses in Old Catalan 157
- Chapter 8. Competition, stability and change in the emergence of Brazilian Portuguese 191
- Chapter 9. What is a diachronically stable system in a language-contact situation? 215
- Chapter 10. A variational theory of specialization in acquisition and diachrony 245
- Chapter 11. Stable variation in multidimensional competition 263
- Index 291
