The acquisition of word order : micro-cues, information structure, and economy / Marit Westergaard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Westergaard, Marit R. (Marit Richardsen)

Series:

Linguistik aktuell/linguistics today, 0166-0829 ; v. 145

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Norwegian language--Word order.

Norwegian language.

Norwegian language--Acquisition.

Grammar, Comparative and general--Word order.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 245 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia, PA ; Amsterdam : John Benjamins Pub. Company, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Within a new model of language acquisition, this book discusses verb second (V2) word order in situations where there is variation in the input. While traditional generative accounts consider V2 to be a parameter, this study shows that, in many languages, this word order is dependent on fine distinctions in syntax and information structure. Thus, within a split-CP model of clause structure, a number of micro-cues are formulated, taking into account the specific context for V2 vs. non-V2 (clause type, subcategory of the elements involved, etc.). The micro-cues are produced in children's I-language grammars on exposure to the relevant input. Focusing on a dialect of Norwegian, the book shows that children generally produce target-consistent V2 and non-V2 from early on, indicating that they are sensitive to the micro-cues. This includes contexts where word order is dependent on information structure. The children's occasional non-target-consistent behavior is accounted for by economy principles.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Preliminaries

Word order variation and the structure of the target language

The syntax of V2 and a model of micro-cues

The input

The acquisition of word order in non-subject-initial declaratives

The acquisition of word order in subject-initial declaratives

The acquisition of word order in wh-questions

The acquisition of word order in yes/no-questions

The acquisition of word order in non-V2 contexts

Micro-cues, information structure, and economy

References

Appendix

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612312274

9781282312272

1282312278

9789027289346

9027289344

OCLC:

649900848