Verb Movement and Expletive Subjects in the Germanic Languages (Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax) - Softcover

Vikner, Sten

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195083946 ISBN 13: 9780195083941

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1995

Synopsis

This book is the study of two different kinds of variation across the Germanic languages. One involves the position of the finite verb, and the other the possible positions of the "logical" subject in constructions with expletive (or "dummy") subjects. The book applies the theory of principles and parameters (also known as the "government-binding theory") to the study of comparative syntax. Several languages are considered, including less frequently discussed ones like Danish, Faroese, Icelandic, and Yiddish.

About this title

Review

the best currently available survey of verb movement and expletive subjects in the Germanic languges ... nobody working in Germanic syntax can afford to overlook the wealth of data and insightful analyses presented in Vikner's book, which sets new standards for the field of theoretically oriented comparative syntax. This book will undoubtedly spawn much fruitful research, and I can only hope that it finds the widest possible distribution. (Barnhard Rohrbacher, Northwestern University, Linguistics 33)

The author has given the book a well-planned organization around the two main phenomena of verb movement and expletive constructions. Previous analyses are presented succinctly but thoroughly, while an abundance of new data serves to support the new proposals. The clarity of the organization in the book allows the reader to follow the discussion from one step to the next ... Without any question Vikner's book is required reading for any serious study of Germanic syntax. (Studies in Language)

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195083946
• ISBN 13: 9780195083941
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 312