Dutch spatial case
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Sander Lestrade
Abstract
This paper argues that Dutch has spatial case in the form of r-pronouns. The use of these pronouns is rather restricted, which explains the fact that they have not been recognized as spatial case markers before. The restricted use in Dutch is due to two simultaneously applying principles that are cross-linguistically validated. First, case can be used on constituents whose syntactic function can not be told from structural position. Second, infelicitous combinations of humans with spatial forms case can be avoided. The findings reported in this paper may necessitate a rethinking of what exactly (spatial) case is.
Abstract
This paper argues that Dutch has spatial case in the form of r-pronouns. The use of these pronouns is rather restricted, which explains the fact that they have not been recognized as spatial case markers before. The restricted use in Dutch is due to two simultaneously applying principles that are cross-linguistically validated. First, case can be used on constituents whose syntactic function can not be told from structural position. Second, infelicitous combinations of humans with spatial forms case can be avoided. The findings reported in this paper may necessitate a rethinking of what exactly (spatial) case is.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction to case, animacy and semantic roles 1
- Remarks on the coding of Goal, Recipient and Vicinal Goal in European Uralic 29
- A case in search of an independent life 65
- The division of labour between synonymous locative cases and adpositions 113
- Is there a future for the Finnish comitative? 135
- Animacy and spatial cases 157
- There’s more than “more animate” 183
- The coding of spatial relations with human landmarks 209
- A survey of the origins of directional case suffixes in European Uralic 235
- Dutch spatial case 283
- Case on the margins 305
- Why should beneficiaries be subjects (or objects)? 329
- General index 349
- Language index 353
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction to case, animacy and semantic roles 1
- Remarks on the coding of Goal, Recipient and Vicinal Goal in European Uralic 29
- A case in search of an independent life 65
- The division of labour between synonymous locative cases and adpositions 113
- Is there a future for the Finnish comitative? 135
- Animacy and spatial cases 157
- There’s more than “more animate” 183
- The coding of spatial relations with human landmarks 209
- A survey of the origins of directional case suffixes in European Uralic 235
- Dutch spatial case 283
- Case on the margins 305
- Why should beneficiaries be subjects (or objects)? 329
- General index 349
- Language index 353
