Re: V2
| From: | Matt Pearson <jmpearson@...> |
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| Date: | Saturday, November 13, 1999, 0:36 |
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>jmpearson@FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU writes:
>
>> To give some examples, if English were V2, then each of the following
>> sentences would be grammatical (here square brackets are used to indicate
>> constituents):
>>
>> [ John ] GAVE [ the book ] [ to Daniel ] [ yesterday ]
>> [ the book ] GAVE [ John ] [ to Daniel ] [ yesterday ]
>> [ to Daniel ] GAVE [ John ] [ the book ] [ yesterday ]
>> [ yesterday ] GAVE [ John ] [ the book ] [ to Daniel ]
>>
>> In other words, V2 languages can be SVOX, OVSX, or XVSO.
>
> So in these languages can the subject and object only be determined by
>inflection and/or context? Or are certain of the above patterns used in
>specific situations? I guess the biggest concern would be how to distinguish
>the first two...
Yes, subject and object are distinguished both by context and by inflection
(where "inflection" is used in both of its senses, viz. morphology and
intonation). In German and Icelandic (and maybe Kashmiri?) subject and
object are distinguished by case (nominative vs. accusative/dative).
In the other V2 languages subject and object pronouns are distinguished
by case, and subject and object noun phrases by context. Typically,
the second sentence above (where the object has been fronted) would
only be used if the object were being focussed.
Matt.