How linguistic knowledge can ease learning: Making sense of word order Robert Kluender Department of Linguistics, UCSD UCCLLT Workshop on Grammar and Language.

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How linguistic knowledge can ease learning: Making sense of word order Robert Kluender Department of Linguistics, UCSD UCCLLT Workshop on Grammar and Language Teaching June 19, 2004 Slide 2 What we mean by grammar prescriptive attempts to freeze-frame language descriptive takes language exactly as spoken traditional description of surface-level behavior linguistic explanation of how language works Slide 3 What we mean by grammar prescriptive attempts to freeze-frame language descriptive takes language exactly as spoken traditional description of surface-level behavior linguistic explanation of how language works Slide 4 But is linguistic grammar of any practical use? Slide 5 Claims What I am going to present today: based on real syntactic proposals explains a wide array of clausal data not easily captured by traditional grammar easier than the many clause-specific rules that students usually learn Slide 6 Disclaimers What I am going to present today: not my analysis (its standard) pertains only to explicit learning not a classroom demonstration (would need to be didacticized first) should not be tried at home (all in 60 minutes or less, that is) Slide 7 Omissions What I am not going to present today: phonology final devoicing: Tag [ta:k] vs. Tage morphology decomposition: Widerstandsnester Wider + stand + s + nest + er against+ stance+ poss + nest +plural pockets of resistance Slide 8 Syntax: Slide 9 Syntax: German word order Slide 10 Traditional grammar view: V-2 nd, subject-verb-object word order is taken to be basic to German All other word orders, e.g. V-first order in yes/no-questions V-final order in subordinate clauses are taken to be permutations of basic subject-verb-object (SVO) word order Slide 11 Syntax: German word order Linguistic grammar view: V-final, subject-object-verb word order is taken to be basic to German All other word orders, e.g. V-first order in yes/no-questions V-2 nd order in main clauses are taken to be permutations of basic subject-object-verb (SOV) word order Slide 12 Syntax: German word order Whats at stake: The two approaches make almost exactly opposite predictions How to decide between them: If a theory is based on special cases, it will be more complicated If it is based on the general case, it will be more economical and elegant Slide 13 The take-home message with regard to German word order By relying on traditional grammar descriptions of surface behavior, we may actually be complicating things conceptually, making the learning process more difficult for our students unnecessarily Slide 14 German word order in main clauses Deutsch aktiv (1983) In German, the main clause shows normal word order. The finite verb appears in second position. Neue Horizonte, 5 th edition (1999) In German statements, only the verb has a fixed position. The verb is always the second element. This is an ironclad rule that must be learned well. Slide 15 German word order in main clauses Kontakte, 4 th edition (2000) In German statements, the verb is always in second position. Vorsprung, Updated version (2002) Regardless of the position of the subject, the position of the conjugated verb remains constant. It is always the second element of the sentence. Slide 16 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht the verb stands an zweiter Stelle at second position im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 17 German word order in main clauses Deutsch heute, 8 th edition (2005) In a German statement, the finite verb is always in second position, even when an element other than the subject (for example, an adverb or a prepositional phrase) is in first position. Slide 18 Traditional grammar view of subject position Neue Horizonte, 5 th edition (1999) If an element other than the subject begins the sentence, the verb remains in second position and the subject then follows the verb. Kontakte, 4 th edition (2000) In German statements, the verb is always in second position. If the sentence begins with an element other than the subject, the subject follows the verb. Slide 19 Traditional grammar view of subject position Vorsprung, Updated edition (2002) Whenever an element other than the subject begins a sentence, the subject follows as the third element of the sentence. Deutsch heute, 8 th edition (2005) When an element other than the subject is in first position, the subject follows the verb. Slide 20 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) final position Slide 21 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) a bunch of other constituents final position Slide 22 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle the verb stands at second position im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 23 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle the verb stands at second position im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 24 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle the verb stands at second position im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 25 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle the verb stands at second position im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 26 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. Slide 27 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. Slide 28 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. Slide 29 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle at second position Slide 30 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht at second position stands Slide 31 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb at second position stands the verb Slide 32 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb at second position stands the verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 33 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Slide 34 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Slide 35 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Slide 36 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz in=the German main=clause Slide 37 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht in=the German main=clause stands Slide 38 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht in=the German main=clause stands das Verb the verb Slide 39 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht in=the German main=clause stands das Verb an zweiter Stelle. the verb at second position Slide 40 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb an zweiter Stelle. Slide 41 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb an zweiter Stelle. Slide 42 The verb stands in second position in the German main clause Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb an zweiter Stelle. Slide 43 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) final position Slide 44 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) a bunch of other constituents final position Slide 45 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb steht the verb stands immer an zweiter Stelle always at second position im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 46 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle the verb stands always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 47 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle the verb stands always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 48 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle the verb stands always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 49 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle the verb must always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz in=the German main=clause Slide 50 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle the verb must always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen. in=the German main=clause stand Slide 51 The traditional grammar view Slide 52 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle the verb must always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen. in=the German main=clause stand Slide 53 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb wird immer an zweiter Stelle the verb will always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen. in=the German main=clause stand Slide 54 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle the verb must always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen. in=the German main=clause stand Slide 55 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle the verb must always at second place wird im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen. in=the German main=clause stand Slide 56 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb wird immer an zweiter Stelle the verb will always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen in=the German main=clause stand mssen. have to Slide 57 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle the verb has always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen in=the German main=clause stand mssen. had to Slide 58 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen mssen. Slide 59 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen mssen. Slide 60 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen mssen. Slide 61 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen mssen. When theres more than one verb form in the main clause, most of them pile up at the end. Slide 62 Observations (preliminary) When theres more than one verb form in the main clause, most of them pile up at the end Slide 63 Word order in subordinate clauses DLI German Basic Course (1979) After subordinating conjunctions, the conjugated verb stands at the end of the clause. Deutsch aktiv (1983) In the dependent clause, the finite verb moves to the end of the clause. Slide 64 the finite verb moves to the end of the clause Slide 65 Slide 66 Slide 67 Word order in subordinate clauses Neue Horizonte, 5 th edition (1999) subordinating conjunctions move the inflected verb to the end of the subordinate clause. Vorsprung, Updated version (2002) Subordinate clauses are always introduced by a subordinating conjunction, e.g., dass (that), and the conjugated verb always comes at the end of the subordinate clause. Slide 68 Word order in subordinate clauses Deutsch heute, 8 th edition (2005) Two signals distinguish a dependent clause from an independent clause: (1) it is introduced by a subordinating conjuntion (dass, wenn) and (2) the finite verb (fhrt, sind) is at the end. Slide 69 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende completely at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz steht. in=the German next=clause stands Slide 70 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) final position Slide 71 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1st) a bunch of other constituents final position Slide 72 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende completely at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz steht. in=the German next=clause stands Slide 73 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende completely at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz steht. in=the German next=clause stands Slide 74 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende completely at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz steht. in=the German next=clause stands Slide 75 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz we believe that the finite verb wholly am Ende im deutschen at=the end in=the German Nebensatz steht. next=clause stands Slide 76 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz we believe that the finite verb wholly am Ende im deutschen at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen muss. next=clause stand must Slide 77 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz we believe that the finite verb wholly am Ende im deutschen at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen wird. next=clause stand will Slide 78 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz we believe that the finite verb wholly am Ende im deutschen at=the end in=the German Nebensatz wird stehen mssen. next=clause will stand have to Slide 79 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz we believe that the finite verb wholly am Ende im deutschen at=the end in=the German Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. next=clause has stand had to Slide 80 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. Slide 81 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. Slide 82 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. Slide 83 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. The verbs are piling up at the end of the clause again. Slide 84 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen mssen. When theres more than one verb form in the main clause, most of them pile up at the end. Slide 85 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz stehen mssen. Theres a traffic jam of verbs at the end of the MAIN clause. Slide 86 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. The verbs are piling up at the end of the clause again. Slide 87 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz hat stehen mssen. Theres a traffic jam of verbs at the end of the SUBORDINATE clause. Slide 88 Observations (preliminary) When theres more than one verb form in the main clause, most of them pile up at the end Slide 89 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses (excepting V-2 nd in main clauses) Slide 90 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) final position Slide 91 Legend first position second position third position (the subject, if its not 1 st ) a bunch of other constituents final position Slide 92 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende wholly at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz steht. in=the German next=clause stands Slide 93 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb we believe the finite verb ganz am Ende wholly at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz in=the German next=clause Slide 94 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht we believe the finite verb stands ganz am Ende wholly at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz. in=the German next=clause Slide 95 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht we believe the finite verb stands ganz am Ende wholly at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz. in=the German next=clause Slide 96 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, ganz am Ende steht we believe wholly at=the end stands das finite Verb the finite verb im deutschen Nebensatz. in=the German next=clause Slide 97 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, ganz am Ende we believe wholly at=the end steht das finite Verb stands the finite verb im deutschen Nebensatz. in=the German next=clause Slide 98 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, ganz am Ende we believe wholly at=the end steht das finite Verb stands the finite verb im deutschen Nebensatz. in=the German next=clause Slide 99 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, im deutschen Nebensatz we believe in=the German next=clause steht das finite Verb stands the finite verb ganz am Ende. wholly at=the end Slide 100 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, im deutschen Nebensatz we believe in=the German next=clause steht das finite Verb stands the finite verb ganz am Ende. wholly at=the end Slide 101 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht we believe the finite verb stands ganz am Ende wholly at=the end im deutschen Nebensatz. in=the German next=clause Slide 102 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht we believe the finite verb stands ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz. next=clause Slide 103 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht we believe the finite verb stands ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz. next=clause Slide 104 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht we believe the finite verb stands ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz. next=clause Slide 105 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz steht. next=clause stands Slide 106 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen muss. next=clause stand must Slide 107 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb we believe the finite verb ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen muss. next=clause stand must Slide 108 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb muss we believe the finite verb must ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen. next=clause stand Slide 109 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb muss we believe the finite verb must ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen. next=clause stand Slide 110 The finite verb stands at the end of the German embedded clause Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz wird stehen mssen. next=clause will stand have to Slide 111 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb we believe the finite verb ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz wird stehen mssen. next=clause will stand have to Slide 112 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb wird we believe the finite verb will ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen mssen. next=clause stand have to Slide 113 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb wird we believe the finite verb will ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen mssen. next=clause stand have to Slide 114 Does the finite verb always stand at the end of the embedded clause? Wir glauben, das finite Verb hat we believe the finite verb has ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz stehen mssen. next=clause stand had to Slide 115 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses (excepting V-2 nd in main clauses) Slide 116 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses (excepting V-2 nd in both main and subordinate clauses) Slide 117 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses The finite (inflected) verb is in second position in both main and subordinate clauses when no dass is present Slide 118 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses The finite (inflected) verb is in second position in both main and subordinate clauses when no dass is present Slide 119 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses The finite (inflected) verb is in second position in both main and subordinate clauses when no dass is present This looks suspiciously like an important generalization Slide 120 The beginnings of a prediction If a dass or another word similar to it (a complementizer) is present in a German MAIN clause, will the finite verb appear at the end? Dass ich nicht lache! that I not laugh Dont make me laugh! Slide 121 The beginnings of a prediction If a dass or another word similar to it (a complementizer) is present in a German MAIN clause, will the finite verb appear at the end? Dass ich nicht lache! that I not laugh Dont make me laugh! Slide 122 The beginnings of a prediction If a dass or another word similar to it (a complementizer) is present in a German MAIN clause, will the finite verb appear at the end? ich nicht lache I not laugh Slide 123 The beginnings of a prediction If a dass or another word similar to it (a complementizer) is present in a German MAIN clause, will the finite verb appear at the end? ich lache nicht I laugh not Slide 124 The beginnings of a prediction If a dass or another word similar to it (a complementizer) is present in a German MAIN clause, will the finite verb appear at the end? Ich lache nicht! I laugh not Im not laughing! Slide 125 The verb always stands in 2 nd position in the German main clause Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle the verb stands always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz. in=the German main=clause Slide 126 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Steht das Verb immer an zweiter Stelle stands the verb always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz? in=the German main=clause ordinary V-1 st out-of-the-blue yes/no- question in a neutral context Slide 127 Does the verb always stand in 2 nd position in a German main clause? Ob das Verb immer an zweiter Stelle if the verb always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz steht? in=the German main=clause stands repetition seeking confirmation that the question is correctly understood Slide 128 If only the verb would stay in 2 nd position in a German main clause! Wenn das Verb nur immer an zweiter if the verb only always at second Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz place in=the German main=clause stnde! would=stand Slide 129 How unreliably the verb stays in 2 nd position in a German main clause! Wie unzuverlssig das Verb an zweiter how unreliably the verb at second Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz place in=the German main=clause steht! stands Slide 130 Observations (preliminary) Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses The finite (inflected) verb is in second position in both main and subordinate clauses when no dass is present Slide 131 Observations Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses The finite (inflected) verb is in second position in both main and subordinate clauses when no dass is present The finite verb is in final position in both main and subordinate clauses when a complementizer is present Slide 132 Observations Verbs pile up at the ends of both main and subordinate clauses The finite (inflected) verb is in second position in both main and subordinate clauses when no dass is present The finite verb is in final position in both main and subordinate clauses when a complementizer is present Slide 133 Generalizations Verbs act pretty much the same in both main and subordinate clauses: most verb forms occur clause-finally verb-2 nd is in complementary distribution with complementizers complementizer present: (finite) V-final complementizer absent: (finite) V-2 nd Slide 134 Generalizations (rearranged) Most verb forms occur clause-finally in both main and subordinate clauses Finite verbs also occur clause-finally in both main and subordinate clauses when a complementizer is present Finite verbs occur in second position (V-2 nd ) only when there is no complementizer in the clause Slide 135 Proposal Since verbs most often occur at the end of clauses, why not make that the rule rather than the exception? Instead of saying that verb-2 nd word order is normal, why not treat it as the exception to the rule instead? Slide 136 Proposal (continued) Instead of saying that German has two different word orders for main and subordinate clauses, say that all verbs occur clause-finally except when there is no complementizer present in the clause, in which case the finite verb occurs in second position (and only then). Slide 137 Proposal (continued) This is tantamount to saying that verb-final, subject-object-verb (SOV) word order is basic to German verb-2 nd (SVO) word order is derived this is diametrically opposed to the assumptions of traditional grammar Slide 138 Questions How do we account for verb-second if its an exception rather than the rule? Complementizers and finite verbs are in complementary distribution are they somehow jockeying for position? Do complementizers block finite verbs in second position because they occupy a sentence position that the finite verb needs for V-2 nd ? Slide 139 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Slide 140 Where do complementizers occur? MAIN CLAUSES Ob das Verb immer an zweiter Stelle if the verb always at second place im deutschen Hauptsatz steht? in=the German main=clause stands Slide 141 Where do complementizers occur? SUBORDINATE CLAUSES Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb we believe that the finite verb ganz am Ende im deutschen wholly at=the end in=the German Nebensatz steht. next=clause stands Slide 142 Where do complementizers occur? Answer: Right before the subject of the clause Slide 143 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Slide 144 Where exactly is second position? Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb an zweiter Stelle. Slide 145 Where exactly is second position? Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb im deutschen Hauptsatz. Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb an zweiter Stelle. Slide 146 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Slide 147 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause Slide 148 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause Where is verb-2 nd when the subject is in first position? Slide 149 Where exactly is second position? main clauses Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle im deutschen Hauptsatz. subordinate clauses Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht ganz am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz. Slide 150 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause Where is verb-2 nd when the subject is in first position? Slide 151 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause Where is verb-2 nd when the subject is in first position? Slide 152 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause Where is verb-2 nd when the subject is in first position? Slide 153 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause Where is verb-2 nd when the subject is in first position? Immediately after it Slide 154 More basic questions Where do complementizers occur? Right before the subject of the clause Where exactly is second position in German clause structure? Right before the subject of the clause (but after subjects in first position) Slide 155 (less basic) Questions How do we account for verb-second if its an exception rather than the rule? Slide 156 (less basic) Questions Complementizers and finite verbs are in complementary distribution are they somehow jockeying for position? Apparently yes: preceding the subject Do complementizers block finite verbs in second position because they occupy a sentence position that the finite verb needs for V-2 nd ? Yes, right before the subject position Slide 157 (less basic) Questions How do we account for verb-second if its an exception rather than the rule? Slide 158 More [less [basic [questions]]] More generally, how do we account for the various German word orders? verb-final when there is complementizer present verb-initial in yes/no-questions verb-second in declaratives (subject-first and/or subject-third) verb-second in wh-questions Slide 159 Basic sentence structure Slide 160 Elaborated sentence structure (roughly after Chomsky 1985) Slide 161 Verb-final word order Slide 162 Slide 163 Slide 164 Slide 165 Yes/no-question word order Slide 166 Slide 167 Verb-2 nd, subject-3 rd order Slide 168 Wh-question word order Slide 169 Yes/no-question word order Slide 170 Slide 171 Subject-1 st, verb-2 nd order Slide 172 Bonus: conditionals Slide 173 Slide 174 Slide 175 Slide 176 Slide 177 The problem of separable prefixes Wir wissen, dass die Verben sich we know that the verbs REFL am Ende des Satzes anhufen. at=the end of=the sentence up=pile We know that the verbs pile up at the end of the sentence. Slide 178 The problem of separable prefixes Wir wissen, die Verben hufen sich we know the verbs pile REFL am Ende des Satzes an. at=the end of=the sentence up We know the verbs pile up at the end of the sentence. Slide 179 The mystery If verb-2 nd is the normal word order for German clauses, what is the prefix doing hanging around at the end of the clause? Slide 180 The textbooks solution Deutsch aktiv (1983) When using a verb with separable prefix in German, the prefix is separated from the verb and moved to the end of the sentence. Neue Horizonte, 5 th edition (1999) In the present tense and the imperative, the prefix is separated from the verb and placed at the end of the sentence or clause. Slide 181 The textbooks solution Kontakte, 4 th edition (2000) When you use a present-tense form of these verbs, put the conjugated form in second position and put the prefix at the end of the sentence. The two parts of the verb form a frame or bracket, called a Satzklammer, that encloses the rest of the sentence. Slide 182 Satzklammer Slide 183 The problem of separable prefixes Wir wissen, die Verben hufen sich we know the verbs pile REFL am Ende des Satzes an. at=the end of=the sentence up We know the verbs pile up at the end of the sentence. Slide 184 The problem of separable prefixes Wir wissen, dass die Verben sich we know that the verbs REFL am Ende des Satzes anhufen. at=the end of=the sentence up=pile We know that the verbs pile up at the end of the sentence. Slide 185 The problem of separable prefixes Wir wissen, die Verben hufen sich we know the verbs pile REFL am Ende des Satzes an. at=the end of=the sentence up We know the verbs pile up at the end of the sentence. Slide 186 The problem of separable prefixes Wir wissen, die Verben werden sich we know the verbs will REFL am Ende des Satzes anhufen. at=the end of=the sentence up=pile We know the verbs will pile up at the end of the sentence. Slide 187 Bonus: separable prefixes Slide 188 Slide 189 Slide 190 Slide 191 Slide 192 Slide 193 Slide 194 Slide 195 Summary of the analysis German has verb-final word order Complementizers and V-2 nd share the same syntactic position Inflected verbs move into V-2 nd position when there is no complementizer present Other constituents can move into the preceding topic/focus position at will Slide 196 Advantages of the analysis Accounts for: preponderance of clause-final verbs verb position similarities between main and subordinate clauses all clause types (declarative, interrogative, conditional, imperative) using one basic syntactic structure idiosyncrasies of separable prefixes Slide 197 Advantages of the analysis simplifies the learning task: one structure and one rule for verb position in all clause types covers all verb types (e.g. prefixes) does not require much machinery: subject, verb phrase, complementizer, topic/focus, and two movement rules (for verbs and for other constituents) Slide 198 But what will I tell my students? There are 2 extra sentence positions outside the subject and verb phrase One is for complementizers or finite (inflected, conjugated) verbs The other is for any other sentence constituent The interaction of these two positions accounts for all German word orders Slide 199 But isnt it too hard for students? Is it really any harder than the endless array of rules that the traditional grammar description of German word order requires? Since this analysis of word order is comprehensive, it would follow students throughout their careers, and not be presented only once Slide 200 Advantages of the analysis allows the language its own natural ordering principles and elegance allows students to discover the structure of the language, reassuring them that there is a system to it allows teachers to apply scientific method to language in the classroom (zero equipment or materials costs!)