Re: Sketch of Germanech 4/4: Syntax

Henrik Theiling wrote:

> Is Dutch `less' V2 than German then?
Well, Dutch is just as V2 as German, but maybe somewhat stricter on the
placement of S and O. But understand me correctly: it is mostly a question
of usage, not grammar. I don't think the sentences were grammatically
incorrect, they just sound awkward/non-natural, except in specific
circumstances, such as mentioned by Irina.

> Hmm...  German even allows this
> with prepositions (although, maybe, colloquially only):
>
> A: Trinkst Du das Bier noch aus?
>    drink   you the beer still up?
>
>    Will you finish the beer?
Dutch: "Drink je het bier nog op?"

> B: Aus will ich nicht trinken, aber ein Schlückchen noch.
>    up  want I   not   drink,   but  a   swallow-little still.
>
>    I don't want to drink up, but I'll have a wee bit more.
Dutch: "Opdrinken wil ik niet, maar wel een slokje"

No, the literal translation, although grammatically not incorrect, isn't
something you woudl normally say. It could be use poetically though.

> Only verbs sometimes (if no other finite verb is there) need
> circumscription by the auxiliary `tun' because otherwise you ended up
> with V1, which is a yes-no-question.  In the example above, it
> works without `tun':
>
> A: -see above-
>
> B: Austrinken will ich nicht, ...
>    up-drink   want I   not...
This would be what we would do in Dutch, but even then....

> Very interesting that Dutch allows less here.  Are the above sentences
> acceptable in Dutch then?
They are not grammatically incorrect, but they sound a little strange. They
would be possible in poetry.

> They are quite on the edge in German.
> Especially the first one.
In Dutch the first one is no go, the second just awkward.

Maarten