Discourse particles and hvað-exclamatives
Abstract
This paper discusses three discourse particles found in matrix exclamative sentences in Icelandic and their syntactic distribution. Despite some pragmatic differences between them, these particles show uniform behavior in that they are only found in clause-initial position of hvað-exclamatives, a rather surprising fact since Icelandic has many other kinds of exclamatives. This restriction is accounted for by assuming that the discourse particles occupy a high head position in the left periphery from which they select a complement of a particular type. This requirement is satisfied only in hvað-exclamatives because hvað ‘whatʼ is a general degree word, unlike other items that introduce exclamatives in Icelandic. If correct, this analysis provides further evidence for the head status of discourse particles across languages.
Abstract
This paper discusses three discourse particles found in matrix exclamative sentences in Icelandic and their syntactic distribution. Despite some pragmatic differences between them, these particles show uniform behavior in that they are only found in clause-initial position of hvað-exclamatives, a rather surprising fact since Icelandic has many other kinds of exclamatives. This restriction is accounted for by assuming that the discourse particles occupy a high head position in the left periphery from which they select a complement of a particular type. This requirement is satisfied only in hvað-exclamatives because hvað ‘whatʼ is a general degree word, unlike other items that introduce exclamatives in Icelandic. If correct, this analysis provides further evidence for the head status of discourse particles across languages.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- The status quo of research on discourse particles in syntax and semantics 1
- The syntax and semantics of discourse particles 15
- What you see is what you get: Chinese sentence-final particles as head-final complementizers 49
- The syntax of Swedish modal particles 78
- Discourse particles and hvað-exclamatives 100
- Root infinitivals and modal particles. An interim report 115
- Modal particles ≠ modal particles (= modal particles) 144
- Discourse particles “embedded”: German ja in adjectival phrases 173
- Combining ja and doch: A case of discourse structural iconicity 203
- Discourse marker = discourse particle = thetical = modal particle? A futile comparison 241
- Stressed and unstressed particles in Old Indic 281
- On the status and the interpretation of the left-peripheral sentence particles inu and ia in Old High German 304
- Index 332
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- The status quo of research on discourse particles in syntax and semantics 1
- The syntax and semantics of discourse particles 15
- What you see is what you get: Chinese sentence-final particles as head-final complementizers 49
- The syntax of Swedish modal particles 78
- Discourse particles and hvað-exclamatives 100
- Root infinitivals and modal particles. An interim report 115
- Modal particles ≠ modal particles (= modal particles) 144
- Discourse particles “embedded”: German ja in adjectival phrases 173
- Combining ja and doch: A case of discourse structural iconicity 203
- Discourse marker = discourse particle = thetical = modal particle? A futile comparison 241
- Stressed and unstressed particles in Old Indic 281
- On the status and the interpretation of the left-peripheral sentence particles inu and ia in Old High German 304
- Index 332
