On the English alternation that/Ø in complement clauses: An historical approach (original) (raw)

This thesis explores the English alternation between 'that' and Ø in complement clauses, emphasizing its historical development, a perspective often overlooked in existing literature. The research aims to trace the origins of this alternation, aiming to clarify its grammatical role and the implications of its historical usage. By doing so, the study challenges the notion of a principled syntactic account governing the alternation's distribution, suggesting that historical linguistic elements significantly influence its usage.