This chapter proposes an analysis that derives the word order variation in dependent clauses in O... more This chapter proposes an analysis that derives the word order variation in dependent clauses in OHG within a universal VO base order, plus additional cyclic leftward movement operations that target different information-structural projections in the complex left periphery of the clause. More precisely, it is argued that categories conveying contrastive information land in [Spec,FocP], with the finite verb targeting Foc° and marking the left edge of the new-information focus domain, while background information is placed further left, between ForceP and FocP. This positional realization of the verb and phrases expressing different semantic types of focus is considered a special strategy of disambiguating broad from narrow focus, as well as of avoiding the clash of two focus phrases in the middle field of clauses with multiple foci.
In this paper, Old High German mood alternations in the different types of subordinate clauses (c... more In this paper, Old High German mood alternations in the different types of subordinate clauses (complement, adverbial and relative clauses) are discussed. The use of the subjunctive in subordinate clauses is notoriously more frequent than in Modern German and has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Based on a comprehensive corpus study, the paper will show that the licensing conditions for the subjunctive in Old High German are determined by notions such as veridicality and – in relative contexts – specificity. These conditions are thus similar (but not always identical) to those observed for Modern Greek and Romance languages. Furthermore, a syntactic analysis is provided in order to account for the licensing of the subjunctive in each type of subordinate clause.
This chapter investigates the syntactic properties and the pragmatic behaviour of verb-initial de... more This chapter investigates the syntactic properties and the pragmatic behaviour of verb-initial declarative clauses in the history of German. The focus is on OHG because in this period, verb-initial declaratives represent a frequent, well-known alternative to canonical verb-second main clauses. It is argued that verb-initial declaratives are native in origin, and that they are derivable under a special interpretation of the verb-second rule. The main part of the chapter deals with the pragmatic properties of verb-initial declaratives in OHG, summarizing the various attempts at explaining the distribution of these orders and showing that further research is needed to arrive at a more adequate understanding of their function in the discourse. The chapter closes up with the discussion of the later development of verb-initial declaratives in German, sketching the controversial treatments of this question in the literature on German diachronic syntax.
ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus desi... more ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus designed to support detailed empirical studies on the interaction of information structure and syntax in Old High German (OHG). The creation and exploration of this corpus are part of ...
ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus desi... more ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus designed to support detailed empirical studies on the interaction of information structure and syntax in Old High German (OHG). The creation and exploration of this corpus are part of a more general investigation concerning the role of information-structural factors in the explanation of word order variation and change in the Germanic languages. The paper also describes corpus design principles, methodologies, relevant formats and specifications, and the technical infrastructure employed during the creation of the corpus, as well as its accessibility by means of the linguistic database of information structure ANNIS. RÉSUMÉ. Cet article rapporte le développement et l’évaluation d’un corpus historique conçu pour des recherches empiriques sur l’interaction entre la structure d’information et la syntaxe dans l’ancien haut-allemand. La création et l’exploration du corpus contribuent à l’investig...
This chapter proposes an analysis that derives the word order variation in dependent clauses in O... more This chapter proposes an analysis that derives the word order variation in dependent clauses in OHG within a universal VO base order, plus additional cyclic leftward movement operations that target different information-structural projections in the complex left periphery of the clause. More precisely, it is argued that categories conveying contrastive information land in [Spec,FocP], with the finite verb targeting Foc° and marking the left edge of the new-information focus domain, while background information is placed further left, between ForceP and FocP. This positional realization of the verb and phrases expressing different semantic types of focus is considered a special strategy of disambiguating broad from narrow focus, as well as of avoiding the clash of two focus phrases in the middle field of clauses with multiple foci.
In this paper, Old High German mood alternations in the different types of subordinate clauses (c... more In this paper, Old High German mood alternations in the different types of subordinate clauses (complement, adverbial and relative clauses) are discussed. The use of the subjunctive in subordinate clauses is notoriously more frequent than in Modern German and has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Based on a comprehensive corpus study, the paper will show that the licensing conditions for the subjunctive in Old High German are determined by notions such as veridicality and – in relative contexts – specificity. These conditions are thus similar (but not always identical) to those observed for Modern Greek and Romance languages. Furthermore, a syntactic analysis is provided in order to account for the licensing of the subjunctive in each type of subordinate clause.
This chapter investigates the syntactic properties and the pragmatic behaviour of verb-initial de... more This chapter investigates the syntactic properties and the pragmatic behaviour of verb-initial declarative clauses in the history of German. The focus is on OHG because in this period, verb-initial declaratives represent a frequent, well-known alternative to canonical verb-second main clauses. It is argued that verb-initial declaratives are native in origin, and that they are derivable under a special interpretation of the verb-second rule. The main part of the chapter deals with the pragmatic properties of verb-initial declaratives in OHG, summarizing the various attempts at explaining the distribution of these orders and showing that further research is needed to arrive at a more adequate understanding of their function in the discourse. The chapter closes up with the discussion of the later development of verb-initial declaratives in German, sketching the controversial treatments of this question in the literature on German diachronic syntax.
ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus desi... more ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus designed to support detailed empirical studies on the interaction of information structure and syntax in Old High German (OHG). The creation and exploration of this corpus are part of ...
ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus desi... more ABSTRACT. The present paper reports on the development and evaluation of a historical corpus designed to support detailed empirical studies on the interaction of information structure and syntax in Old High German (OHG). The creation and exploration of this corpus are part of a more general investigation concerning the role of information-structural factors in the explanation of word order variation and change in the Germanic languages. The paper also describes corpus design principles, methodologies, relevant formats and specifications, and the technical infrastructure employed during the creation of the corpus, as well as its accessibility by means of the linguistic database of information structure ANNIS. RÉSUMÉ. Cet article rapporte le développement et l’évaluation d’un corpus historique conçu pour des recherches empiriques sur l’interaction entre la structure d’information et la syntaxe dans l’ancien haut-allemand. La création et l’exploration du corpus contribuent à l’investig...
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