Cloutier, Robert A. (2005) Review of Trips, Carola. (2002) From OV to VO in Early Middle English. English Language and Linguistics 9:1, 181-191. (original) (raw)
Related papers
Verbal Syntax in the Early Germanic Languages
This dissertation investigates the evidence for verb movement at the earliest stages of the Germanic languages. It is argued that already in the oldest documents of Germanic there are cases which must involve movement of the finite verb from the Verb Phrase to a functional head position higher up in the hierarchical structure. In a well-defined set of cases this is the Complementizer (C) position, but in other cases an IP-internal functional head position seems more likely as a landing-site for the verb. Moreover, it is argued that whereas in Gothic and Old English the verb does not move to C when complements are topicalized, in the other old Germanic languages, Old Norse, Old High German, and Old Saxon, V–to–C movement is obligatory in topicalizations. An examination of the runic inscriptions reveals that topicalized complements triggered movement of the verb to C already at the earliest stage in the northern part of the Germanic linguistic area.
Old English and Old Norse V1 Structure: A case study of De falsis diis
Master thesis, 2018
Old English and Old Norse are two major Old Germanic languages that consistently demonstrate the verb-initial structure in certain contexts. Although many previous researches on V1 were already done, but a comparison perspective based on cross-linguistic data is regretfully lacked. The present study makes good use of the unique bilingual version of AElfric's homily De falsis diis, in an attempt to examine both languages' V1 feature under a similar context. Extra data are also quoted from outside sources to support a solid comparison. The main discussion starts by outlining a general V1 definition for both Old English and Old Norse, before preceding to the comparison of their differences and similarities. Four major aspects are examined in this process: discourse function, syntactic analysis, argument structure and coordination. They are highly illustrative of the syntactic and pragmatic characteristics of the V1structure. The result of the comparison shows a marked distinction between both languages' V1 behaviour, deeply rooted in their internal structural differences. This supports a languagespecific approach to the Old Germanic V1 phenomenon.
Folia Linguistica, 2019
The semantic range of ditransitive verbs in Modern English has been at the center of linguistic attention ever since the pioneering work of Pinker (1989.Learnability and cognition: The acquisition of argument structure. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press). At the same time, historical research on how the semantics of the ditransitive construction has changed over time has seriously lagged behind. In order to address this issue for the Germanic languages, the Indo-European subbranch to which Modern English belongs, we systematically investigate the narrowly defined semantic verb classes occurring in the ditransitive construction in Gothic, Old English and Old Norse-Icelandic. On the basis of data handed down from Proto-Germanic and documented in the oldest layers of the three Germanic subbranches, East, West and North Germanic, respectively, we show that the constructional range of the ditransitive construction was considerably broader in the earlier historical stages than now; several subcl...
From SOV to SVO: Old Norse Influence on English Constituent Order
Leviathan: Interdisciplinary Journal in English
The change in constituent order in English is one of the most thoroughly investigated changes in the history of the English language. Even so, there is still disagreement among scholars as to what caused the change. The aim of this article is to argue that it was the influence of the Scandinavians and their language, Old Norse, that caused English to abandon the SOV constituent order and instead adopt SVO constituent order. Because of the intense language contact between the two cultures, several linguistic features of Old Norse found their way into the English language. Numerous morphological features were borrowed from Old Norse, but especially the adoption of syntactic features such as stylistic fronting and CP-V2 suggests that Old Norse influence was strong enough to affect the basic syntax of English and thus strong enough to have initiated the change in English constituent order.
Syntax and Information Structure: Verb Second variation in Middle English
Investigating the variation between verb-second (V2) and non-V2 word order in declaratives in Middle English, this chapter explores how syntax and information structure interact in the word order development during this period. It compares this interaction to similar variation in wh -questions in Present-Day Norwegian. The study makes a distinction between nominal and pronominal subjects across the four subperiods of Middle English, showing how word order is determined by syntax and information structure in different contexts. It discusses the diachronic development attested in light of findings from first language acquisition.
The Lexical Effects of Anglo-Scandinavian Linguistic Contact on Old English
The Lexical Effects of Anglo-Scandinavian Linguistic Contact on Old English
Terje Faarlund attempt to make the case that from its Middle period onwards, English is a North Germanic language, descended from the Norse varieties spoken in Medieval England, rather than a West Germanic language, as traditionally assumed. In this review article we critique Emonds & Faarlund's proposal, focusing particularly on the syntactic evidence that forms the basis of their argumentation.
Old English Syntax and Its Relation to German: A Comparative Study
Leviathan: Interdisciplinary Journal in English
At first glance, the syntax of ancient Old English appears reminiscent of the syntax of the Present-Day German language. A number of shared syntactic traits such as Subject Object Verb constituent order, Verb Second, and a complicated inflectional system have caused the two languages to be compared by scholars, who often have referred to German as simply a present-day version of the now far-gone Old English. Exploring both similarities and dissimilarities of the two languages, this article examines the relationship between the two languages’ syntax to show that although structurally similar once, modern-day English has lost most of the syntactic traits linking it to the German language and their common Proto-Germanic roots. These syntactical differences not only show that Old English was never just a modern-day variant of German but also show that the two languages are developing in separate directions – or at least in separate paces.
Growing syntax: The development of a DP in North Germanic
Language, 2016
Grammaticalization as standardly conceived is a change whereby an item develops from a lexical to a grammatical or functional meaning, or from being less to more grammatical. In this article we show that this can only be part of the story; for a full account we need to understand the syntactic structures into which grammaticalizing elements fit and how they too develop. To achieve this end we consider in detail the history of definiteness marking within the noun phrase in North Germanic, and in particular in Faroese. We show how this change requires us to distinguish between projecting and nonprojecting categories, and how a category can emerge over time and only subsequently develop into a head with its own associated functional projection. The necessary structure, rather than being intrinsic to an aprioristic universal grammar, grows over time as part of the grammaticalization process. We suggest that this in turn argues for a parallel correspondence theory of grammar such as the one adopted here, lexical-functional grammar, in which different dimensions of linguistic structure can change at different rates.*
Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, Graduação em Letras - Português/Inglês, UTFPR, 2016
ABSTRACT: This study refers to the Scandinavian influences on the English language, which involve essentially linguistic aspects, but, also culture. The history of the English language is directly linked to the people who inhabited the current English territory and to the other cultures that the English peoples had contact with. In this way, it will be made the contextualization of the time and the historical space to which this study refers, namely, the Viking Age in England. Through bibliographical research that encompasses many theories and phenomena related to the Old Norse influences on the English language, the focus of this work will on analyze and reflect on the transition from Old English to Middle English, denoting the impact caused by contact with Old Norse. However, although Scandinavian presence in England and their influences on language and culture are significant, such historical episode is overshadowed by Roman and French interferences that have shown greater impact on continental politics. Therefore, another objective of this study is to value and recognize the importance of Scandinavian permanence in England in what concerns the linguistic and cultural consequences from that period.