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.

A binary system of complementizers in Cimbrian relative clauses / Bidese, Ermenegildo; Padovan, Andrea; Tomaselli, Alessandra. - STAMPA. - 90:(2012), pp. 1-21.

A binary system of complementizers in Cimbrian relative clauses

Bidese, Ermenegildo
Primo
;
Padovan, Andrea
Secondo
;
Tomaselli, Alessandra
Ultimo
2012-01-01

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.
2012
Working Papers in Scandinavian Syntax, vol. 90
Lund
Christer Platzack; Center of Language and Literature
Bidese, Ermenegildo; Padovan, Andrea; Tomaselli, Alessandra
A binary system of complementizers in Cimbrian relative clauses / Bidese, Ermenegildo; Padovan, Andrea; Tomaselli, Alessandra. - STAMPA. - 90:(2012), pp. 1-21.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/94869
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