Variable verb second in Norwegian main and embedded clauses

Order and Structure in Embedded Clauses in Northern Norwegian

The (Non-) Effect of Input Frequency on the Acquisition of Word Order in Norwegian Embedded Clauses

In this paper we show that input frequency plays a role in the acquisition of word order, but only combined with other factors. Two constructions with similar input frequencies are investigated: embedded questions and (all) embedded clauses with negation. It is shown that the lack of input cues for the target word order in embedded clauses with negation leads children to overgeneralize main cla...

Movement from Verb-Se ond Clauses Revisited

Complementiser Phrase: The Case of English Wh-Embedded Clauses

English main-clause wh-questions form complementiser phrases with wh-words preposed to spec-C position. This is because English wh-words, as verb-complements originally, are strong enough to trigger wh-movement and auxiliary inversion. Persian EFL learners encounter an over-differentiation problem regarding the acquisition of auxiliary inversion rule in English standard questions. Once they hav...

From SOV to SVO: In search of cognitive forces driving the historical change from Subject-Object-Verb to Subject-Verb-Object in main clauses of Dutch and German

In modern Dutch and German, main clauses have Subject-Verb-Object as basic word order (“Verb-second”, V2) but subordinate clauses have Subject-Object-Verb (“Verb-final”, Vf). In older forms of both languages, standard word order was SOV in all clause types. According to recent suggestions, perceptual/cognitive processing factors may have contributed to this historical development. Golden-Meadow...