Word Order in Old Italian (Oxford Studies in Diachronic and Historical Linguistics)

This book explores sets of movement cases in medieval Italian from 1200 to 1315. It offers an integrated description of all the relevant aspects of word order in Old Italian based on uniform principles (analysing the left periphery of the sentence, of the verbal phrase, and of the determiner phrase, and the interaction of these structures with quantification and negation). From the theoretical point of view, it considers the possibilities of a syntactic model in which the (left) edges of the constituents play an essential role in determining the possible structures. The author suggests that Old Italian has a rule preposing topic and focus elements to dedicated positions not only in the left periphery of the complementizer phase but also in the left periphery of other phases. She also provides an account of the apparent optional negative concord pattern exhibited by Old Italian in terms of dedicated positions. The book concludes with a summary of the various types of preposing presented in the book, arguing that all cases of optionality can be resolved within a single grammar and without need to resort to the double base hypothesis, which requires competence of the speakers on two different grammatical systems. The book makes important contributions to the medieval history of Italian, to Romance historical linguistics, and to the study of diachronic syntactic change more generally. Cover Word Order in Old Italian Copyright To my family Contents Series preface Acknowledgements Source abbreviations 1: The Old Italian left periphery 1.1 V2 as V to Focus 1.2 The analysis of V2: Benincà (2006) and the V2 correlates 1.2.1 Subject inversion 1.2.2 Constituents in first position 1.2.3 Pro-drop 1.2.4 Verb-third sequences 1.2.5 Verb-first 1.3 Topic and Operator particles 1.3.1 Null shift topics 1.3.2 e as a Topic marker 1.3.3 The particle sì 1.4 Concluding remarks 2: Scrambling in vP 2.1 Introduction 2.2 OI is a VO language 2.3 Scrambling in OI 2.3.1. The elements that can be scrambled 2.3.2 Multiple scrambling 2.4 Optionality of scrambling 2.5 What is scrambling? 2.6 Past participle agreement 2.7 Parallel phases 2.8 Phase edges 3: Scrambling in the DP phase 3.1 Setting out the problem 3.2 The structure of the DP phase 3.3 Movement to the edge 3.3.1 PP scrambling as movement to the edge of the DP 3.3.2 Scrambling to the edge of the PP 3.3.3 Scrambling of prenominal adjectives modified by molto 3.4 The structural Genitive position 3.5 Prenominal restrictive adjectives 3.6 The loss of scrambling 3.7 Concluding remarks 4: The vP left periphery in different sentence types 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Infinitival constructions 4.3 Infinitival forms selected by modal and aspectual verbs 4.3.1 Scrambling with modal verbs 4.3.2 Scrambling with aspectual and perception verbs 4.3.3 Causative constructions 4.4 Scrambling and V2 in embedded clauses 4.4.1 Complement clauses 4.4.2 Other clause types 4.5 Concluding remarks 5: Quantifier movement 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The quantifier tutto 5.2.1 Tutto modified by a relative clause 5.2.2 Tutto modifying a DP 5.2.3 Bare quantifier tutto 5.3 Other bare quantifiers 5.3.1 The quantifier molto 5.3.2 The quantifier molti 5.3.3 The quantifier tutti 5.4 Bare quantifiers in dedicated positions 5.5 Concluding remarks 6: Negative words 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The negative marker non and optional negative concord 6.3 The asymmetric distribution of niente/neiente/neente 6.3.1 The position of adverbial niente 6.3.2 Argumental niente 6.4 Arguments in favor of the analysis 6.4.1 Minimal variation 6.4.2 PPs including niente 6.4.3 Position with respect to the past participle 6.5 The asymmetric distribution of niente and neuna cosa 6.6 A change in the system 6.7 Tutto and niente: a comparison 6.8 Concluding remarks 7: The grammar of OI in a broader perspective References Index Oxford Studies in Diachronic and Historical Linguistics In preparation This Volume Offers An Integrated Description Of All Aspects Of Word Order In Old Italian, Looking At The Left Periphery Not Only Of The Sentence, But Also Of The Verbal Phrase And Determiner Phrase. It Makes Important Contributions To The Study Of Medieval Italian, Romance Historical Linguistics, And Diachronic Syntactic Change More Generally. The Old Italian Left Periphery. V2 As V To Focus ; The Analysis Of V2 : Benincà (2006) And The V2 Correlates ; Topic And Operator Particles ; Concluding Remarks -- Scrambling In Vp. Introduction ; Oi Is A Vo Language ; Scrambling In Oi ; Optionality Of Scrambling ; What Is Scrambling? ; Past Participle Agreement ; Parallel Phases ; Phase Edges -- Scrambling In The Dp Phase. Setting Out The Problem ; The Structure Of The Dp Phase ; Movement To The Edge ; The Structural Genitive Position ; Prenominal Restrictive Adjectives ; The Loss Of Scrambling ; Concluding Remarks -- The Vp Left Periphery In Different Sentence Types. Introduction ; Infinitival Constructions ; Infinitival Forms Selected By Modal And Aspectual Verbs ; Scrambling And V2 In Embedded Clauses ; Concluding Remarks -- Quantifier Movement. Introduction ; The Quantifier Tutto ; Other Bare Quantifiers ; Bare Quantifiers In Dedicated Positions ; Concluding Remarks -- Negative Words. Introduction ; The Negative Marker Non And Optional Negative Concord ; The Asymmetric Distribution Of Niente/neiente/neente ; Arguments In Favor Of The Analysis ; The Asymmetric Distribution Of Niente And Neuna Cosa ; A Change In The System ; Tutto And Niente : A Comparison ; Concluding Remarks -- The Grammar Of Oi In A Broader Perspective. Cecilia Poletto. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [177]-184) And Index. This book offers an integrated description of all aspects of word order in Old Italian, looking at the left periphery not only of the sentence, but also of the verbal phrase and determiner phrase. It makes important contributions to the study of medieval Italian, Romance historical linguistics, and diachronic syntactic change more generally.