Dislocation (syntax)

The so-called topological model or (position ) Fields model is a common in Germanic Linguistics method to describe the German sentence structure (as well as other Germanic languages) by a division of the sentence into "fields", in conjunction with rules that the occupation of the fields depending on the record type set (eg, declarative sentence, interrogative sentence, dependent clause ). There is a description grid in the different sets can be classified according to their appearance, but are in the further aspects of grammatical structure is not taken into account; in particular it does not contain complete division of the sentence into sentence parts or constituents. The model fields are, however, to generalize to the German sentence structure, which are then tries to explain theories of the grammatical structure.

Origin of the model fields

An early form of the division of the German sentence into three fields comes from Erich Drach (1937 ), here are " run-up, middle and Nachfeld " distinguished. This also explains the term " core set " for the German Verbzweitsatz because the finite verb forms the middle of the pack in this classification. The development of the model fields, which is presented below consists largely be a differentiation of Drach'schen " Nachfeldes " in midfield, right bracket and the Nachfeld (in the modern sense).

Influential for further development, developed in 1946 by Paul Diderichsen for the Danish version of the model was further fields ( which presents itself differently, as the Danish unlike the Germans an SVO language).

Fields arrangement

The sentence bracket and the middle

Typical of the German law is the so-called " sentence bracket ', that is, the phenomenon that the finite verb is in the front pack, but follow remaining parts of the predicate, eg verbs in the infinitive or separable particles only at the end of a sentence. These two positions are used to model as points of reference: the " embrace " an area, which is then referred to as the "center ", and outside this bracket blends each an " advance " and a " Nachfeld " to:

The midfield is the area in which initially all is that material of the sentence that is not assigned because of a specific definition of one of the other fields. Among other things, the midfield and therefore includes a position for the subject, except this is taken in each individual case to advance ( as in the second example above, for more information see below). The order of the components in the midfield is usually: subject ' indirect object < direct object < prepositional object ( for possible variation in the sequence, see the article Scrambling (linguistics) ). The grammar of the sentence parts inside the midfield is as such but not further treated in the Fields model.

The left bracket is also used for the introductory sentence conjunction of the subordinate clause as for the finite verb of the main clause; the left parenthesis in the above examples, each time the position just before the middle position of the subject. The positions of conjunction and finite verb are identified as the same as a fronting of the verb in the simultaneous presence of a conjunction is not possible; from this it is concluded that they are competing for the same position. The fields model itself is, however, no explanations to why several words are allowed at the same time in the right bracket, and left only in the not.

The left sentence bracket except conjunctions can only contain a finite verb in an infinitive clause without conjunction arises so that the left sentence bracket remains empty.

Finer classifications for the position of verbs

The right parenthesis as the verbal complex

The right parenthesis contains the finite verb, if this is at the end of a sentence (ie in subordinate clauses ). Otherwise, there are variants of the model in terms of whether and how much other material is to be classified under the term " right parenthesis ". The majority occurring variant which was also used at the top, along the right-hand clip, all components of the predicate, that more specifically, the entire verbal complex, which may consist of a plurality of verbs in English is assigned.

Variant: separation of " right parenthesis" and " final field "

In another tradition, a separation takes place, so that only the finite verb can form the right bracket and other components predicate form their own so-called " final field ", which gives a special part of the midfield.

In this variant, always referred to as " bracket" then a position of a finite verb (or alternatively a conjunction ); the above mentioned problem that otherwise can contain multiple words the right, but not the left bracket, is avoided. On the other hand, the right bracket in the main clause is then always empty, so that the term " bracket structure " is no longer motivated ( what was initially called a " sentence bracket " corresponds, now the combination of " left parenthesis " " final field").

The Oberfeld

Another fine subdivision is necessary for constructions in which the finite verb is drawn before the other verbs at end of block. This additional position is called a ' top box ':

The infinitives of this example can not be assigned to the Nachfeld ( with the finite verb in the right bracket then regularly ) because it is a so-called coherent structure, that is, the infinitive is not satzwertig. Such infinitives are otherwise never nachfeldfähig.

The apron

The apron is used for the placement of any material that is to be taken either as a given information from the context (called a Topik ) or for material that is to be emphasized as a contrast. The occupation of the apron through a part of the sentence is ( somewhat inaccurately ) referred to as " topicalization " this part of the sentence. In addition to the finite verb almost all kinds of phrases can be used for the occupation of the apron, then they are missing at the appropriate point of the midfield. For blocks with little material, it may happen that the midfield thus remains completely empty.

Examples:

Similarly, complex phrases, even whole clauses, occupy the apron: In the first example below, a verb phrase ( an infinite verb with its supplements ), in the second a subject set, the third one Adverbial. The structure of this complicated examples will be transparent when it is based in the fact that the finite verb of the main clause must always form the left bracket ( the main clause ):

Where an entire sentence is in advance, it should be noted that this set his hand again has a field structure ( not shown here ); Fields structures can be nested so far in certain cases together.

A special feature is the front- occupation by a Expletivum is: A pronoun "it" may appear to occupy the apron " pro forma ". This means that all other material is a subject, remains in midfield.

• Adverb in advance, compared with the run - Expletiv plus adverb, etc. in the middle:

• Subject in advance, compared with the run - Expletiv plus subject in the middle:

Overall, it can be seen that the apron is not a subject position ( but any material absorbs ), therefore, the expletive "it" not a subject- Expletiv.

The Nachfeld

The Nachfeld mainly serves long parts of a sentence, such as clauses outsource. In principle, subordinate clauses, which have the status of a subject, object or adverbials, are in the appropriate position in the midfield, but this is often stylistically and grammatically partially unacceptable:

However, such sentences are certain post with a subject or object position of the center field in conjunction, as they can there by a so-called correlative pronoun ( "it" ) are represented ( the Korrelatpronomen other hand, can not stand when a subordinate clause in the run-up to take place in Nachfeld is ):

Other types of material can be certain post, remarkably thereof include prepositional phrases that act here " nachgeschoben ", also infinitive with " to" ( which have the status of subordinate clauses, that is, are incoherent in construction ), and relative clauses, which actually refer to a noun in the midfield, but can be separately here. Examples of fields analyzes of such cases are:

Additional fields in the periphery

Although not included in the classical model fields, more points can be identified for additions in the German sentence that lie beyond the run or Nachfeld. These are often "pre- advance " and "post- Nachfeld " said positions containing material that is not integrated into the set, such as styling ( vocatives ), coordinating conjunctions, and material that is sent ahead or grudge, and in advance must be resumed or midfield with a pronoun ( the so-called dislocation structures). Many, but not all such cases are typical of the spoken language.

The first two examples show links dislocations that follow before the apron, the third example of a legal transfer, still behind the Nachfeld. Styling and " And " connectors meet again in the literature as special " connection box " in front of the position of the left dislocation are listed below but not broken:

Fields occupation and the marking of sentence types

The different record types (such as interrogative sentence, declarative sentence, etc., as well as in other respects law and subordinate clause ) are in German by an interaction of several elements labeled; this includes the Verbmodus ( subjunctive / indicative ), the intonation, but also the various occupations of the apron and the left parenthesis. The midfield, however, does not participate in the identification of sentence types but is all record types together.

Three sentence forms are traditional for the German distinction: The Verbzweitsatz (also called " core set ") of Verberstsatz (also called " brow kit " ) and the verb -end set (also called " chip set "). The Verbzweitstellung here is the set form in which the apron is occupied mandatory ( it was also a Expletivpronomen ) and the finite verb is in the left bracket. This is the form used for declarative sentences or supplement questions (" wh-questions " ) is considered the main theorems. This means that the German wh-questions and declarative sentences as the main sentences exactly have the same shape (unlike, for example, in English it is the case ).

The verb - initial sentence is characterized in that the apron is mandatory empty. This form have yes / no questions or imperatives ( and some other record types that are discussed in articles V1 position in more detail):

In subordinate clauses that are introduced by a conjunction, these busy as I said, the left bracket. If it is an embedded declarative sentence ( with the conjunction " that", and others) or an indirect yes / no question is ( with the conjunction "if" ), the apron should be left blank and the finite verb in the right bracket. stand However, a particular problem constitute indirect wh-questions and relative clauses: Question or relative pronoun represent parts of a sentence, and in main clauses is the place for pronouns when prepending, basically the apron, not the left parenthesis. Therefore, results from systematic reasons, the expectation that in embedded interrogatives and relative clauses, the sentence- initial pronoun should also occupy the apron. Because here there Verbendstellung, arises from the fact that the left parenthesis will be empty.

Since no restrictions are derived from the fields model as such, what position must be filled by which words, however, has also been considered attributable question - and relative pronouns in embedded clauses the left parenthesis to explain why the verb remain in the right bracket needs. ( However, for structural theories of grammar would result in restrictions that forbid this according to prevailing doctrine, see below).

Interpretation of the classification fields in the syntactic theory

See also: X -bar theory, transformation (linguistics)

In syntactic theories that seek explanations for the properties of sentence structure using abstract structures, such as generative grammar, the fields model is not considered as an alternative to such a theory, but are given as a collection of observations, for the explanations and derivations can. Theoretical classifications of fields model in this framework can be outlined by the following ( for more details see the main article for Verbzweitstellung ):