Verb Movement and Clause Structure in Old Romanian

Virginia Hill (Professor of Linguistics, Professor of Linguistics, University of New Brunswick),Gabriela Alboiu (Associate Professor of Linguistics, Associate Professor of Linguistics, York University)

Verb Movement and Clause Structure in Old Romanian
Format
Hardback
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Country
United Kingdom
Published
4 February 2016
Pages
352
ISBN
9780198736509

Verb Movement and Clause Structure in Old Romanian

Virginia Hill (Professor of Linguistics, Professor of Linguistics, University of New Brunswick),Gabriela Alboiu (Associate Professor of Linguistics, Associate Professor of Linguistics, York University)

The book provides a formal analysis of root and complement clauses in Old Romanian. Virginia Hill and Gabriela Alboiu examine the combination of Balkan syntactic patterns such as generalized subjunctive complementation on the one hand, and the Romance morphology that supplies complementizers and grammatical mood forms on the other. The consequences of this mixed typology range from root clauses with non-finite verbs to split heads and repeated recycling in clausal complements. The book argues that discourse triggers at the left periphery are responsible for fluctuations in verb movement in finite clauses, while with gerunds and imperatives verb movement follows from functional constraints. It further argues that clausal complements to control and raising verbs systematically display the pattern of the Balkan subjunctive, and that the spell out of these clausal complements has been repeatedly recycled during the development of Romanian. Verb Movement and Clause Structure in Old Romanian presents a new perspective on the manifestation of Balkan Sprachbund properties in the language, and on the nature of parametric differences in relation to other Romance languages. It provides a unified explanation for a range of constructions that have previously been treated as separate phenomena, and places diachronic changes in Romanian in a wider context.

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 2 weeks

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.