Scrambling (linguistics)

Scrambling is a term in linguistics for the phenomenon of so-called " free word order ". While the arrangement of the elements in the set in some languages ​​( as eg in English ) is defined structurally, the sequence of parts of a sentence in other languages ​​relatively free (for example, in Japanese, Persian and German ).

  • 6.1 Scrambling in Dutch
  • 6.2 Scrambling in German
  • 6.3 Scrambling in Korean
  • 6.4 Scrambling in Japanese

Development of the concept

The term scrambling (of English. Scramble to " mess mix ") was in his dissertation Constraints on variables in syntax introduced by the American linguist John R. Ross in 1967. Ross was describing original word order variation as a stylistic rule, which was located outside of the syntax. Since Kenneth L. Hale (1980, 1983) Scrambling is considered primarily syntactic operation.

Example

In the German subordinate clause are in addition to the regular sequence ( a), other possible:

All sequence variants of the three constituents " the professor ", " the student " and " the book" grammatically in English. Other languages ​​have a much less restricted word order than the German.

Scrambling can occur internally set (Ex. He has shown his brother the book vs. He showed the book to his brother. .. ) Or constituents can move over sentence boundaries (so-called long distance scrambling ) as described in Japanese:

Theory

The essence of scrambling is in the theory of grammar the subject of a lively debate. While some authors claim that scrambling is base-generated and that there is free and equivalent variants of a sentence give ( Hale and Farmer 1980 for Japanese; Mohanan 1990 for Hindi and Urdu, Fanselow for the German ), represented another of the opinion that scrambling the product of a syntactic movement is. The latter assumption is a "natural" base sequence of Satzkonstituenten ahead of the scrambled variant is derived ( Saito and Hoji 1983, Hoji 1985 for Japanese; Neeleman 1994 for the Netherlands ).

Scrambling as the base generation

The base generation approach of Hale (1980, 1983) divides the languages ​​into two types:

  • In those with a flat structure (non- configurational ). For this purpose, see Hale et al 1980 and Farmer 1980 Japanese; Fanselow 2001 for German; Mohanan 1990 for Hindi and Urdu, etc.
  • And have in that languages ​​having a structural hierarchy ( configurational ); These esp. Saito and Hoji 1983, Hoji 1985; Neeleman 1994 for Dutch, etc.

Scrambling as movement

Kerstens (1975 ), van Riemsdijk (1978) and de Haan ( 1979) were the first to scrambling as a syntactic movement, ie as a transformation to analyze. They postulated that the adverbs have a fixed position in and of itself and therefore scrambling is an optional movement to positions to the left of adverbs.

If we treat scrambling as Derivation of underlying word order, arising from a number of questions.

  • What is the word order underlying and how can it be determined?
  • What kind of movement is it?
  • Whereby the movement is triggered?
  • How can the apparent optionality of movement explain?

In the Government and Binding Theory

In the Government and Binding Theory ( GB), a distinction between A- and A'- movement. While Long distance scrambling is uniformly analyzed as A'- movement, ie as a movement in a non- argument position, however, is discussed in satzinternem scrambling, whether it is A- movement, A'- movement, or a hybrid.

In the Minimalist Program

The latter questions are essential for the analysis of scrambling within the Minimalist Program ( MP), because due to principles of derivational economy optional syntactic operations are not desired. Therefore, any movement must have a trigger ( trigger). Optional Scrambling is the sense that both the scrambled word order and the ungescrambelte are grammatically (as opposed for example to head movement of verbs). The trigger is typically as morphosyntaktisches feature ( feature ) encodes carrying the scrambled element in itself and in the course of the derivation to the movement for the purpose of feature check results (eg [ scrambling ] feature in Müller, 1998 or [ topic] at Meinunger 1995, 2000). Außersyntaktische factors such as information structure or intonation can be regarded as a trigger for scrambling and treated as morphosyntactic features (eg [ Focus] by Rizzi, 1997 or [ anti- focus] of Molnárfi, 2002).

The problem of optionality remains and is described, for example, of Molnárfi (2004) as part of the Copy Theory of movement of the MP as a means to express both the lower and the upper copy of the moving element and is thus practically the syntax of the phonology laid.

On the Function of scrambling

Scrambling has an impact on the information structure and sentence stress. Whether this is the motivation for scrambling or a by-product of an independent mechanism is not clear. Various theoretical approaches are concerned with the relationship between word order and information structure, in particular the interactions between scrambling and topic and focus (eg Frey 2004 Meinunger 2000 Molnárfi 2002).

Scrambling and Language Typology

Typological be scrambling languages ​​of non- scrambling languages ​​differ presumably, inter alia, by the position of the finite verb. In the large number of languages ​​, one of which is believed to scramble, even Verbendstellung ( SOV ) is either mandatory or possible. (But is controversial, for example, Russian, considered SVO language, but very free word order has ) SVO languages ​​, however, do not scramble in the rule.

Scrambling in different languages

Whether it is at the instances of free word order in different languages ​​and the different word order variation within the individual languages ​​are one and the same phenomenon is not sufficiently clarified. Haider and Rosengren (1998), for example, see scrambling as confusing collective term for different independently to descriptive word order phenomena.

Scrambling in Dutch

In Dutch, the noun phrase NP and PP prepositional phrase either left or right appear the Satzadverbs objects.

Example:

Scrambling in German

In German, the direct object can be right or left of the indirect object occur, as well as in the pre- subject position (c). Example:

In German scrambling is restricted to the midfield, scrambling to pre -subject position is possible only in embedded clauses.

Scrambling in German is clause -bound, that is, scrambling is beyond block boundaries addition (so-called Long distance scrambling ) in the German ungrammatical:

In infinitive verbs with multiple scrambling is thus only possible when there is a coherent structure.

Scrambling in Korean

Korean is an SOV language, which makes it possible to move the object of a verb to the left edge of a subject.

Example:

There are two movements of referential NPs. Saja - lul is the direct object, which has moved to presententialer position. The subject key- ka moves from a VP position to the IP inflectional phrase.

Scrambling in Japanese

The direct object can possibly be moved across block boundaries (so-called long distance scrambling ), so is found in the pre- subject position. Example:

Evidence from the Neurolinguistics

English is firm in its position relative word; in contrast, for example, Spanish or Korean have a relatively free word order. Broca's aphasics about understand gescramblete sentences rather bad or can they especially do not understand when it comes to gescramblete passive sentences, as in Korean and Spanish, the agent phrase of the passive sentence ( as in German ) also may begin a sentence. Thus, for example,

In Korean:

In Spanish:

Korean language Expressive aphasia Agent (grammar)
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