Bidese, Ermenegildo and Padovan, Andrea and Tomaselli, Alessandra (2012) A binary system of complementizers in Cimbrian relative clauses. In «Working Papers in Scandinavian Syntax », vol. 90, Lund, Sverige : Lund University. Center for Languages and Literature, pp. 1-21.
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Abstract
The system of Cimbrian relative clauses manifests itself in a complex scenario: two different complementizers occur in this context: i) the ‘autochthonous’ (Germanic) bo, cognate of Southern German wo, and ii) the ‘allochthonous’ ke, borrowed from Italian (che), which is gradually spreading. In our paper we provide empirical evidence for a crucial specialization of both complementizers: the former shows up only in restrictive relative clauses, the latter in both restrictive and non-restrictive relatives, giving rise to a binary system. In our analysis we aim to explain the binary system of Cimbrian relative complementizers directly addressing the general discussion about relative clauses, showing once more the relevance of both linguistic contact and microvariation for the theory of grammar.
| Item Type: | Article in journal |
|---|---|
| Department or Research center: | Humanities |
| Subjects: | P Language and Literature > PC Romance languages P Language and Literature > PD Germanic languages P Language and Literature > PF West Germanic > PF3001 German |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Cimbrian; Syntax; Relative Clause; Restrictive Relative Clause; Non-restrictive Relative Clause; Minority Language; Language Contact; |
| Repository staff approval on: | 03 Jan 2013 10:27 |
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