Norbert Corver

Predication in nominal phrases

The main theoretical subject of this paper is the symmetry between nominal and verbal projections. It is demonstrated that predication exists in the nominal domain, in a way quite similar to predication in the clausal domain. An analysis of predication in a configurational way – such that the subject and the predicate together constitute a small clause – makes it possible to provide detailed analyses of complex nominal constructions involving predication, and predicate inversion in particular. This paper focusses on three construction types from Dutch: the N-VAN-EEN-N construction (EEN BEER VAN EEN KEREL ’a bear of a guy‘), the WAT-VOOR construction (WAT VOOR EEN KEREL ’what kind of guy‘), and the WAT-EEN exclamative (WAT EEN KEREL ’what a guy‘). Another aspect of symmetry concerns the fact that the nature of the functional projections in the nominal domain is not significantly different from that of functional projections in the clausal domain. For instance, it is argued that copular elements and complementisers are not peculiar to the clausal domain, but that these are found in the nominal domain as well.

The Internal Syntax of the Dutch Extended Adjectival Projection

This paper is concerned with the phrase structural and word order properties of the (extended) adjectival projection, a phrase structural domain which has received relatively little attention in the generative literature. Focusing on the internal syntax of Dutch adjective phrases, I will come to the following conclusions. First, there is a strong empirical (and theoretical) basis for extending the functional head hypothesis to the adjectival system (i.e. for adopting the DegP-hypothesis). Secondly, a distinction should be made between two types of functional degree categories: Deg(P) and Q(P). This split is represented structurally, with Deg selecting QP and Q selecting AP (the split degree system hypothesis). Thirdly, there is empirical support for the existence of a third functional projection, AgrP, within the adjectival domain. Fourthly, as regards directionality of headedness within the Dutch functional system, it is concluded that Deg and Q take their complements to the right, whereas Agr takes its complement to the left. It is proposed that this asymmetry of headedness within the functional structure of the adjectival projection relates to the nominal orientation of Deg and Q and the verbal orientation of Agr. Finally, three movement operations will be identified within the Dutch adjectival system: A-to-Q raising, A-to-Agr raising and leftward scrambling. The latter two are at the basis of the word order variation which is found within the Dutch adjectival system.

Conservation of grammatical knowledge: on the acquisition of possessive noun phrases by Turkish and Moroccan learners of Dutch

Abstract This article deals with the acquisition of possessive DP structures by Turkish and Moroccan adults and children learning Dutch without substantial classroom instruction. Our main claim is that L2 learners systematically and consistently rely on their grammatical knowledge, which surfaces in the initial stages of the L2 acquisition process but also has a strong impact on later developmental stages. Such a strong conservation encompasses parameter settings as well as morphological and vocabulary knowledge. Before analyzing the various learner variants, we first consider the possessive structures in Turkish, Moroccan Arabic, and Dutch. A thorough analysis of the source languages Turkish and Moroccan Arabic is necessary to reveal the L1 properties conserved in the expression of L2 utterances. The analysis of the L2 possessive variants provides ample evidence that Moroccan learners differ from Turkish learners in their developmental path as well as in the end state attained. We will argue that these differences are due to the different initial states of Turkish and Moroccan learners. The data also provide evidence that adult learners are able to change parametric values that relate to word-order phenomena. They seem less able, however, to acquire new morphological knowledge and language-specific lexical knowledge, which is crucial in appropriating L2 function words.

Getting the (syntactic) measure of Measure Phrases

Abstract Taking the quest for symmetry in the analysis of the syntax of measure phrases (MP) as a heuristic background, this article tries to further our understanding of MPs by giving an in-depth, cross-linguistic analysis of adjectival and nominal constructions featuring an MP. It is shown that symmetry is found both at the level of phrase structural organization and at the level of displacement. As for the first level of symmetry, it is argued that MPs are predicate nominals and, as such, typically start out as small clause predicates within the nominal and adjectival projections. As for the second level of symmetry, it is argued that the same types of displacement processes (predicate inversion, remnant movement, head movement) are attested in nominal and adjectival constructions featuring MP. It is further noted that there is an intra-linguistic parallelism between the syntax of MPs and the syntax of possessors.

Some Notes on Emphatic Forms and Displacement in Dutch

The linguistic expressions in (1)-(3) differ from those in (1’)-(3’) in the presence of the element –e, i.e. the sound ‘schwa’. In the former expressions we have a bare category, whereas the latter have a schwa attached to them. In (1’), the schwa combines with the quantity denoting noun of a pseudopartitive construction. In (2’), schwa is attached to a degree adverb contained within an adjectival phrase. In (3’), finally, the schwa is added to different types of pronouns: the first person singular personal pronoun ik, the singular demonstrative pronouns dat and dit, and the neuter interrogative form wat.

Syntax of Dutch: Verb and Verb Phrases. Volume 2

Syntax of Dutch: Verbs and Verb Phrases consists of three volumes. Volume 1 opens with a general introduction to verbs, including a review of various verb classifications and discussions on inflection, tense, mood, modality and aspect. This is followed by a comprehensive discussion of complementation (argument structure and verb frame alternations). Volume 2 continues the discussion of complementation, but is more specifically focused on clausal complements: the reader will find detailed discussions of finite and infinitival argument clauses, complex verb constructions and verb clustering. Volume 3 concludes with a description of adverbial modification and the overall structure of clauses in relation to, e.g., word order (verb placement, wh-movement. extraposition phenomena, scrambling, etc.).

The Acquisition of Possessive HAVE-Clauses by Turkish and Moroccan Learners of Dutch.

This study describes how Turkish and Moroccan adults acquire Dutch possessive clauses in which the verb have expresses the possessive relationship. The acquisition process is explained within the framework of recent generative theory in which have-clauses are assumed to be copular locative constructions. In this theory, predicate inversion of the locative PP and incorporation of the locative P0 into a be-copula are the main characteristics of a possessive have-clause. Assuming that all linguistic knowledge of the L1 is present, L2 learners rely on it from the earliest stages, irrespective of whether this L1 knowledge is parameter-related or not. The results confirm such a “conservation” viewpoint, which accounts for how the possessive relationship is expressed in the earliest stages and why these learners have their language-specific difficulties in discovering the target have-construction. The results corroborate the conservation effect of both parametrized linguistic knowledge, viz., the strong features triggering predicate inversion, and non-parametrized knowledge, viz., knowledge of syntax, morphology and morphological realization rules, and properties of lexical items.

The Noun Phrase: Diversity in Dutch DP Design (DiDDD)

In this paper we discuss our project: Diversity in Dutch DP Design. This project investigates the variation found in the Dutch DP. Not only the variation concerning contemporary dialects is taken into account, also the variation between contemorary Dutch and older variants of the language are investigated. By looking into variation, the project aims to provide an answer to two questions: (i) what is the locus of variation, (ii) what is the structure of the DP-domain.

Syntax of Dutch : Verbs and Verb Phrases, volume 3

Syntax of Dutch: Verbs and Verb Phrases consists of three volumes. Volume 1 opens with a general introduction to verbs, including a review of various verb classifications and discussions on inflection, tense, mood, modality and aspect. This is followed by a comprehensive discussion of complementation (argument structure and verb frame alternations). Volume 2 continues the discussion of complementation, but is more specifically focused on clausal complements: the reader will find detailed discussions of finite and infinitival argument clauses, complex verb constructions and verb clustering. Volume 3 concludes with a description of adverbial modification and the overall structure of clauses in relation to, e.g., word order (verb placement, wh-movement. extraposition phenomena, scrambling, etc.).

Specific language impairment as a syntax-phonology (PF) interface problem: evidence from Afrikaans

A theoretical account of specific language impairment (SLI) – one which places the locus of the impairment at Spell-Out at the syntax-phonology interface – is proposed and then tested against utterances from Afrikaans-speaking children with SLI. Drawing on Minimalism, our account offers a unified explanation for the seemingly diverse phenomena found in the Afrikaans data: omission of certain lexical material, double articulation of other lexical material and word order deviations. Based on our data, we conclude that the language problem of children with SLI appears to lie neither in the mapping from lexicon to syntax (thus in the selection of a lexical item as a member of the numeration) nor in the computational system, but in the mapping of an adult-like syntactic representation onto a proper sound representation.