in=the German main=clause

How linguistic knowledge can
ease learning:
Making sense of word order
Robert Kluender
Department of Linguistics, UCSD
UCCLLT Workshop on
Grammar and Language Teaching
June 19, 2004
What we mean by “grammar”
 prescriptive
attempts to freeze-frame language
 descriptive
takes language exactly as spoken
 traditional
description of surface-level behavior
 linguistic
explanation of how language works
What we mean by “grammar”
 prescriptive
attempts to freeze-frame language
 descriptive
takes language exactly as spoken
 traditional
description of surface-level behavior
 linguistic
explanation of how language works
But is linguistic grammar of any
practical use?
Claims
What I am going to present today:
 based on real syntactic proposals
 explains a wide array of clausal data
 not easily captured by traditional
grammar
 easier than the many clause-specific
rules that students usually learn
Disclaimers
What I am going to present today:
 not my analysis (it’s standard)
 pertains only to explicit learning
 not a classroom demonstration
(would need to be didacticized first)
 should not be tried at home
(all in 60 minutes or less, that is)
Omissions
What I am not going to present today:
 phonology
final devoicing: Tag [ta:k] vs. Tage
 morphology
decomposition: Widerstandsnester
Wider + stand + s
+ nest + er
against+ stance+ poss + nest +plural
‘pockets of resistance’
Syntax:
Syntax:
German word order
Syntax:
German word order
Traditional grammar view:
 V-2nd, subject-verb-object word order
is taken to be basic to German
 All other word orders, e.g.
– V-first order in yes/no-questions
– V-final order in subordinate clauses
 are taken to be permutations of basic
subject-verb-object (SVO) word order
Syntax:
German word order
Linguistic grammar view:
 V-final, subject-object-verb word
order is taken to be basic to German
 All other word orders, e.g.
– V-first order in yes/no-questions
– V-2nd order in main clauses
 are taken to be permutations of basic
subject-object-verb (SOV) word order
Syntax:
German word order
What’s at stake:
 The two approaches make almost
exactly opposite predictions
How to decide between them:
 If a theory is based on special cases,
it will be more complicated
 If it is based on the general case, it
will be more economical and elegant
The take-home message
with regard to German word order
 By relying on traditional grammar
descriptions of surface behavior,
 we may actually be complicating
things conceptually, making the
learning process more difficult
for our students unnecessarily
German word order in main clauses
 Deutsch aktiv (1983)
“In German, the main clause shows normal
word order…. The finite verb appears in second
position.”
 Neue Horizonte, 5th edition (1999)
“In German statements, only the verb has a
fixed position. The verb is always the second
element. This is an ironclad rule that must be
learned well.”
German word order in main clauses
 Kontakte, 4th edition (2000)
“In German statements, the verb is always in
second position.”
 Vorsprung, Updated version (2002)
“Regardless of the position of the subject, the
position of the conjugated verb remains
constant. It is always the second element of
the sentence.”
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht
the verb stands
an zweiter Stelle
at second position
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
German word order in main clauses
 Deutsch heute, 8th edition (2005)
“In a German statement, the finite verb is
always in second position, even when an
element other than the subject (for example,
an adverb or a prepositional phrase) is in first
position.”
Traditional grammar view of subject
position
 Neue Horizonte, 5th edition (1999)
“If an element other than the subject begins
the sentence, the verb remains in second
position and the subject then follows the verb.”
 Kontakte, 4th edition (2000)
“In German statements, the verb is always in
second position. If the sentence begins with
an element other than the subject, the subject
follows the verb.”
Traditional grammar view of subject
position
 Vorsprung, Updated edition (2002)
“Whenever an element other than the subject
begins a sentence, the subject follows as the
third element of the sentence.”
 Deutsch heute, 8th edition (2005)
“When an element other than the subject is in
first position, the subject follows the verb.”
Legend
first position
second position
third position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
final position
Legend
first position second position third
position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
a bunch of other constituents final
position
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands at second position
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands at second position
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands at second position
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands at second position
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht
im
an zweiter Stelle
deutschen Hauptsatz.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle
at second position
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle
steht
at second position stands
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle
steht das Verb
at second position stands the verb
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle
steht das Verb
at second position stands the verb
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle
steht das Verb
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle
steht das Verb
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im
deutschen Hauptsatz
in=the German main=clause
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im
deutschen Hauptsatz
steht
in=the German main=clause stands
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im
deutschen Hauptsatz
steht
in=the German main=clause stands
das Verb
the verb
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im
deutschen Hauptsatz
steht
in=the German main=clause stands
das Verb an zweiter Stelle.
the verb at second position
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im
deutschen Hauptsatz
steht
das Verb an zweiter Stelle.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im
deutschen Hauptsatz
steht
das Verb an zweiter Stelle.
The verb stands in second position
in the German main clause
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb
an zweiter Stelle.
Legend
first position
second position
third position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
final position
Legend
first position second position third
position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
a bunch of other constituents final
position
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb steht
the verb stands
immer an zweiter Stelle
always at second position
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb must always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz…………
in=the German main=clause
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb must always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen.
in=the German main=clause stand
The traditional grammar view
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb must always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen.
in=the German main=clause stand
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb wird immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb will
always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen.
in=the German main=clause stand
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb must always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen.
in=the German main=clause stand
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb muss immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb must always at second place
 wird
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen.
in=the German main=clause stand
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb wird immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb will
always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen
in=the German main=clause stand
müssen.
have to
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat
the verb has
immer an zweiter Stelle
always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen
in=the German main=clause stand
müssen.
had to
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat
im
immer an zweiter Stelle
deutschen Hauptsatz
müssen.
stehen
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle
im
deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen
müssen.
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen müssen.
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen müssen.
When there’s more than one verb
form in the main clause, most of
them pile up at the end.
Observations (preliminary)
 When there’s more than one verb
form in the main clause, most of
them pile up at the end
Word order in subordinate clauses
 DLI German Basic Course (1979)
“After subordinating conjunctions, the
conjugated verb stands at the end of the
clause.”
 Deutsch aktiv (1983)
“In the dependent clause, the finite verb moves
to the end of the clause.”
“…the finite verb moves to the end
of the clause”
“…the finite verb moves to the end
of the clause”
“…the finite verb moves to the end
of the clause”
Word order in subordinate clauses
 Neue Horizonte, 5th edition (1999)
“…subordinating conjunctions move the inflected
verb to the end of the subordinate clause.”
 Vorsprung, Updated version (2002)
“Subordinate clauses are always introduced by a
subordinating conjunction, e.g., dass (that),
and the conjugated verb always comes at the
end of the subordinate clause.”
Word order in subordinate clauses
 Deutsch heute, 8th edition (2005)
“Two signals distinguish a dependent clause
from an independent clause: (1) it is
introduced by a subordinating conjuntion
(dass, wenn) and (2) the finite verb (fährt,
sind) is at the end.”
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz
am
Ende
completely at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz
steht.
in=the German next=clause stands
Legend
first position
second position
third position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
final position
Legend
first position second position third
position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
a bunch of other constituents final
position
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz
am
Ende
completely at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz
steht.
in=the German next=clause stands
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz
am
Ende
completely at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz
steht.
in=the German next=clause stands
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz
am
Ende
completely at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz
steht.
in=the German next=clause stands
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
we believe that the finite verb wholly
am
Ende im
deutschen
at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
steht.
next=clause stands
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
we believe that the finite verb wholly
am
Ende im
deutschen
at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen muss.
next=clause stand
must
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
we believe that the finite verb wholly
am
Ende im
deutschen
at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen wird.
next=clause stand will
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
we believe that the finite verb wholly
am
Ende im
deutschen
at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
wird stehen müssen.
next=clause will stand have to
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
we believe that the finite verb wholly
am
Ende im
deutschen
at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
hat stehen müssen.
next=clause has stand had to
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
am
Ende im
Nebensatz
hat
deutschen
stehen müssen.
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
am
Ende im
deutschen
Nebensatz
hat stehen müssen.
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz
hat stehen müssen.
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz
hat stehen müssen.
The verbs are piling up at the end of
the clause again….
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen müssen.
When there’s more than one verb
form in the main clause, most of
them pile up at the end.
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Das Verb hat immer an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz
stehen müssen.
There’s a traffic jam of verbs at the
end of the MAIN clause….
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz
hat stehen müssen.
The verbs are piling up at the end of
the clause again….
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb ganz
am Ende im deutschen Nebensatz
hat stehen müssen.
There’s a traffic jam of verbs at the
end of the SUBORDINATE clause….
Observations (preliminary)
 When there’s more than one verb
form in the main clause, most of
them pile up at the end
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
(excepting V-2nd in main clauses)
Legend
first position
second position
third position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
final position
Legend
first position second position third
position (the subject, if it’s not 1st)
a bunch of other constituents final
position
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz am
Ende
wholly at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz
steht.
in=the German next=clause stands
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben,
we believe

das finite Verb
the finite verb
ganz am
Ende
wholly at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz………
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
we believe the finite verb stands
ganz am
Ende
wholly at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz.
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
we believe the finite verb stands
ganz am
Ende
wholly at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz.
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, ganz am
Ende steht
we believe wholly at=the end stands
das finite Verb
the finite verb
im
deutschen Nebensatz.
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, ganz am
Ende
we believe wholly at=the end
steht das finite Verb
stands the finite verb
im
deutschen Nebensatz.
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, ganz am
Ende
we believe wholly at=the end
steht das finite Verb
stands the finite verb
im
deutschen Nebensatz.
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, im deutschen Nebensatz
we believe in=the German next=clause
steht das finite Verb
stands the finite verb
ganz am
Ende.
wholly at=the end
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, im deutschen Nebensatz
we believe in=the German next=clause
steht das finite Verb
stands the finite verb
ganz am
Ende.
wholly at=the end
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
we believe the finite verb stands
ganz am
Ende
wholly at=the end
im
deutschen Nebensatz.
in=the German next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
we believe the finite verb stands
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz.
next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
we believe the finite verb stands
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz.
next=clause
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
we believe the finite verb stands
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz.
next=clause
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
steht.
next=clause stands
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen muss.
next=clause stand
must
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben,
we believe

das finite Verb
the finite verb
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen muss.
next=clause stand
must
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb muss
we believe the finite verb must
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen.
next=clause stand
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb muss
we believe the finite verb must
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen.
next=clause stand
The finite verb stands at the end
of the German embedded clause
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
wird stehen müssen.
next=clause will stand have to
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben,
we believe

das finite Verb
the finite verb
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
wird stehen müssen.
next=clause will stand have to
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb wird
we believe the finite verb will
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen müssen.
next=clause stand have to
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb wird
we believe the finite verb will
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen müssen.
next=clause stand have to
Does the finite verb always stand
at the end of the embedded clause?
Wir glauben, das finite Verb hat
we believe the finite verb has
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz
stehen müssen.
next=clause stand had to
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
(excepting V-2nd in main clauses)
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
(excepting V-2nd in both main and
subordinate clauses)
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
 The finite (inflected) verb is in second
position in both main and subordinate
clauses when no dass is present
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
 The finite (inflected) verb is in second
position in both main and subordinate
clauses when no dass is present
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
 The finite (inflected) verb is in second
position in both main and subordinate
clauses when no dass is present
 This looks suspiciously like
an important generalization…
The beginnings of a prediction
 If a dass or another word similar to it
(a “complementizer”) is present in a
German MAIN clause,
 will the finite verb appear at the end?
 Dass ich nicht lache!
that I not laugh
‘Don’t make me laugh!’
The beginnings of a prediction
 If a dass or another word similar to it
(a “complementizer”) is present in a
German MAIN clause,
 will the finite verb appear at the end?
 Dass ich nicht lache!
that I not laugh
‘Don’t make me laugh!’
The beginnings of a prediction
 If a dass or another word similar to it
(a “complementizer”) is present in a
German MAIN clause,
 will the finite verb appear at the end?

…
ich nicht lache
I not laugh
The beginnings of a prediction
 If a dass or another word similar to it
(a “complementizer”) is present in a
German MAIN clause,
 will the finite verb appear at the end?

ich lache nicht
I laugh not
The beginnings of a prediction
 If a dass or another word similar to it
(a “complementizer”) is present in a
German MAIN clause,
 will the finite verb appear at the end?

Ich lache nicht!
I laugh not
‘I’m not laughing!’
The verb always stands in 2nd
position in the German main clause
Das Verb steht immer an zweiter Stelle
the verb stands always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz.
in=the German main=clause
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Steht das Verb immer an zweiter Stelle
stands the verb always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz?
in=the German main=clause
 ordinary V-1st “out-of-the-blue”
yes/no- question in a neutral context
Does the verb always stand in 2nd
position in a German main clause?
Ob das Verb immer an zweiter Stelle
if the verb always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz steht?
in=the German main=clause stands
 repetition seeking confirmation that
the question is correctly understood
If only the verb would stay in 2nd
position in a German main clause!
Wenn das Verb nur immer an zweiter
if
the verb only always at second
Stelle im
deutschen Hauptsatz
place in=the German main=clause
stünde!
would=stand
How unreliably the verb stays in 2nd
position in a German main clause!
Wie unzuverlässig das Verb an zweiter
how unreliably
the verb at second
Stelle im
deutschen Hauptsatz
place in=the German main=clause
steht!
stands
Observations (preliminary)
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
 The finite (inflected) verb is in second
position in both main and subordinate
clauses when no dass is present
Observations
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
 The finite (inflected) verb is in second
position in both main and subordinate
clauses when no dass is present
 The finite verb is in final position in
both main and subordinate clauses
when a complementizer is present
Observations
 Verbs pile up at the ends of both
main and subordinate clauses
 The finite (inflected) verb is in second
position in both main and subordinate
clauses when no dass is present
 The finite verb is in final position in
both main and subordinate clauses
when a complementizer is present
Generalizations
 Verbs act pretty much the same in
both main and subordinate clauses:
– most verb forms occur clause-finally
– verb-2nd is in complementary
distribution with complementizers
complementizer present: (finite) V-final
complementizer absent: (finite) V-2nd
Generalizations (rearranged)
 Most verb forms occur clause-finally
in both main and subordinate clauses
 Finite verbs also occur clause-finally
in both main and subordinate clauses
when a complementizer is present
 Finite verbs occur in second position
(V-2nd) only when there is no
complementizer in the clause
Proposal
 Since verbs most often occur at the
end of clauses, why not make that
the rule rather than the exception?
 Instead of saying that verb-2nd word
order is “normal”, why not treat it as
the exception to the rule instead?
Proposal (continued)
 Instead of saying that German has
two different word orders for main
and subordinate clauses,
 say that all verbs occur clause-finally
except when there is no
complementizer present in the clause,
 in which case the finite verb occurs in
second position (and only then).
Proposal (continued)
This is tantamount to saying that
 verb-final, subject-object-verb (SOV)
word order is basic to German
 verb-2nd (SVO) word order is derived
 this is diametrically opposed to the
assumptions of traditional grammar
Questions
 How do we account for verb-second if
it’s an exception rather than the rule?
 Complementizers and finite verbs are
in complementary distribution – are
they somehow jockeying for position?
 Do complementizers block finite verbs
in second position because
they occupy a sentence position
that the finite verb needs for V-2nd?
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Where do complementizers occur?
 MAIN CLAUSES
Ob das Verb immer an zweiter Stelle
if the verb always at second place
im
deutschen Hauptsatz steht?
in=the German main=clause stands
Where do complementizers occur?
 SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
Wir glauben, dass das finite Verb
we believe that the finite verb
ganz am
Ende im
deutschen
wholly at=the end in=the German
Nebensatz steht.
next=clause stands
Where do complementizers occur?
 Answer:
Right before the subject of the clause
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Where exactly is second position?
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb
an zweiter Stelle.
Where exactly is second position?
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
An zweiter Stelle steht das Verb
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
Im deutschen Hauptsatz steht das Verb
an zweiter Stelle.
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where is verb-2nd when the subject is
in first position?
Where exactly is second position?
 main clauses
Das Verb steht an zweiter Stelle
im deutschen Hauptsatz.
 subordinate clauses
Wir glauben, das finite Verb steht
ganz am Ende
im deutschen Nebensatz.
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where is verb-2nd when the subject is
in first position?
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where is verb-2nd when the subject
is in first position?
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where is verb-2nd when the subject
is in first position?
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where is verb-2nd when the subject
is in first position?
Immediately after it
More basic questions
 Where do complementizers occur?
Right before the subject of the clause
 Where exactly is second position
in German clause structure?
Right before the subject of the clause
(but after subjects in first position)
(less basic) Questions
 How do we account for verb-second if
it’s an exception rather than the rule?
(less basic) Questions
 Complementizers and finite verbs are
in complementary distribution – are
they somehow jockeying for position?
Apparently yes: preceding the subject
 Do complementizers block finite verbs
in second position because
they occupy a sentence position
that the finite verb needs for V-2nd?
Yes, right before the subject position
(less basic) Questions
 How do we account for verb-second if
it’s an exception rather than the rule?
More [less [basic [questions]]]
 More generally, how do we account
for the various German word orders?
– verb-final when there is
complementizer present
– verb-initial in yes/no-questions
– verb-second in declaratives
(subject-first and/or subject-third)
– verb-second in wh-questions
Basic sentence structure
Sentence
3
Subject Verb phrase
Elaborated sentence structure
(roughly after Chomsky 1985)
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
3
Comp
Sentence
3
Subject Verb phrase
Verb-final word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 daß das Verb am Ende steht
that the verb at=the end stands
Verb-final word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 daß das Verb am Ende steht
Verb-final word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

das Verb am Ende steht
Verb-final word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

das Verb am Ende steht
Yes/no-question word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 steht das Verb am Ende [ ] ?
Yes/no-question word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 steht das Verb am Ende [ ] ?
Verb-2nd, subject-3rd order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
#
Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
am Ende steht das Verb [
] [ ]
Wh-question word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Focus
C’
#
3
#
Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
wo
steht das Verb [
] [ ] ?
Yes/no-question word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 steht das Verb am Ende [ ] ?
Yes/no-question word order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 steht das Verb am Ende [ ] ?
Subject-1st, verb-2nd order
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
#
Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
das Verb steht [
] am Ende [
]
Bonus: conditionals
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 wenn das Verb am Ende wäre
if
the verb at=the end were
Bonus: conditionals
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 wenn das Verb am Ende wäre
Bonus: conditionals
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

das Verb am Ende wäre
Bonus: conditionals
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

das Verb am Ende wäre
Bonus: conditionals
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 wäre das Verb am Ende [
]
The problem of separable prefixes
Wir wissen, dass die Verben sich
we know that the verbs REFL
am
Ende des
Satzes
anhäufen.
at=the end of=the sentence up=pile
‘We know that the verbs pile up at the end
of the sentence.’
The problem of separable prefixes
Wir wissen, die Verben häufen sich
we know the verbs pile
REFL
am
Ende des
Satzes
an.
at=the end of=the sentence up
‘We know the verbs pile up at the end of
the sentence.’
The mystery
 If verb-2nd is the “normal” word order
for German clauses,
 what is the prefix doing hanging
around at the end of the clause?
The textbooks’ solution
 Deutsch aktiv (1983)
“When using a verb with separable prefix in
German, the prefix is separated from the verb
and moved to the end of the sentence.”
 Neue Horizonte, 5th edition (1999)
“In the present tense and the imperative, the
prefix is separated from the verb and placed
at the end of the sentence or clause.”
The textbooks’ solution
 Kontakte, 4th edition (2000)
“When you use a present-tense form of these
verbs, put the conjugated form in second
position and put the prefix at the end of the
sentence. The two parts of the verb form a
frame or bracket, called a Satzklammer, that
encloses the rest of the sentence.”
Satzklammer
The problem of separable prefixes
Wir wissen, die Verben häufen sich
we know the verbs pile
REFL
am
Ende des
Satzes
an.
at=the end of=the sentence up
‘We know the verbs pile up at the end of
the sentence.’
The problem of separable prefixes
Wir wissen, dass die Verben sich
we know that the verbs REFL
am
Ende des
Satzes
anhäufen.
at=the end of=the sentence up=pile
‘We know that the verbs pile up at the end
of the sentence.’
The problem of separable prefixes
Wir wissen, die Verben häufen sich
we know the verbs pile
REFL
am
Ende des
Satzes
an.
at=the end of=the sentence up
‘We know the verbs pile up at the end of
the sentence.’
The problem of separable prefixes
Wir wissen, die Verben werden sich
we know the verbs will
REFL
am
Ende des
Satzes
anhäufen.
at=the end of=the sentence up=pile
‘We know the verbs will pile up at the end
of the sentence.’
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

dass die Verben
that the verbs
sich anhäufen
REFL up=pile
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

dass die Verben
sich anhäufen
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

die Verben
sich anhäufen
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6

die Verben
sich anhäufen
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 häufen die Verben
sich an[
]
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
 häufen die Verben
sich an[
]
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
die häufen [
Verben
] sich an[
]
Bonus: separable prefixes
Complementizer phrase
3
Topic
C’
#
3
# Comp
Sentence
#
#
3
#
#
Subject Verb phrase
#
# 6
6
die werden [
Verben
] sich anhäufen
Summary of the analysis
 German has verb-final word order
 Complementizers and V-2nd share
the same syntactic position
 Inflected verbs move into V-2nd
position when there is no
complementizer present
 Other constituents can move into the
preceding topic/focus position at will
Advantages of the analysis
Accounts for:
 preponderance of clause-final verbs
 verb position similarities between
main and subordinate clauses
 all clause types (declarative,
interrogative, conditional, imperative)
using one basic syntactic structure
 idiosyncrasies of separable prefixes
Advantages of the analysis
 simplifies the learning task:
one structure and one rule for
verb position in all clause types
 covers all verb types (e.g. prefixes)
 does not require much machinery:
subject, verb phrase, complementizer,
topic/focus, and two movement rules
(for verbs and for other constituents)
But what will I tell my students?
 There are 2 extra sentence positions
outside the subject and verb phrase
 One is for complementizers or
finite (inflected, conjugated) verbs
 The other is for any other sentence
constituent
 The interaction of these two positions
accounts for all German word orders
But isn’t it too hard for students?
 Is it really any harder than the
endless array of rules that the
traditional grammar description of
German word order requires?
 Since this analysis of word order
is comprehensive, it would follow
students throughout their careers,
and not be presented only once
Advantages of the analysis
 allows the language its own natural
ordering principles and elegance
 allows students to discover the
structure of the language, reassuring
them that there is a system to it
 allows teachers to apply scientific
method to language in the classroom
(zero equipment or materials costs!)