Pronouns, prepositions and probabilities : a multivariate study of Old English word order
It is widely accepted that Old English personal pronouns often turn up in âspecialâ positions, i.e. positions in which functionally equivalent nominals rarely, if ever, appear. Leading theories of Old English syntax (e.g. van Kemenade 1987, Pintzuk 1991, 1996, Hulk & van Kemenade 1997, Kroch & Taylor 1997) account for the syntax of specially placed pronouns in different ways, but all treat special placement as a freely available option. Focusing on pronominal objects of prepositions in particular, this thesis shows, firstly, that current theories fail to account for the variety of special positions in which these pronouns appear and argues that at least three special positions must be recognised. The central concern of this thesis, however, is whether special placement is the freely available option that leading theories assume. Drawing on evidence from a number of descriptive studies of the syntax of pronominal objects of prepositions (e.g. Wende 1915, Taylor 2008, Alcorn 2009), statistical evidence is presented to show that, in a number of contexts, the probability of special placement is either too high or else too low to be plausibly ascribed to free variation. The thesis explores the linguistic basis
Alcorn, Rhona Jayne
pronoun ; preposition ; Old English ; word order ; multivariate ; Goldvarb ; clitics
Pronouns, prepositions and probabilities : a multivariate study of Old English word order. It is widely accepted that Old English personal pronouns often turn up in âspecialâ positions, i.e. positions in which functionally equivalent nominals rarely, if ever, appear. Leading theories of Old English syntax (e.g. van Kemenade 1987, Pintzuk 1991, 1996, Hulk & van Kemenade 1997, Kroch & Taylor 1997) account for the syntax of specially placed pronouns in different ways, but all treat special placement as a freely available option. Focusing on pronominal objects of prepositions in particular, this thesis shows, firstly, that current theories fail to account for the variety of special positions in which these pronouns appear and argues that at least three special positions must be recognised. The central concern of this thesis, however, is whether special placement is the freely available option that leading theories assume. Drawing on evidence from a number of descriptive studies of the syntax of pronominal objects of prepositions (e.g. Wende 1915, Taylor 2008, Alcorn 2009), statistical evidence is presented to show that, in a number of contexts, the probability of special placement is either too high or else too low to be plausibly ascribed to free variation. The thesis explores the linguistic basis
pronouns preposition probability multivariate study old_english word_order widely_accept old_english personal_pronoun often turn special position position functionally equivalent nominal rarely ever appear leading theory old_english syntax taylor account syntax specially place pronoun different_way treat special placement freely available option focusing pronominal object preposition particular show firstly current_theory fail_account variety special position pronouns appear argues least_three special position must recognise central_concern however whether special placement freely available option lead theory assume drawing evidence number descriptive study syntax pronominal object preposition taylor statistical evidence_present show number context probability special placement either high else low plausibly ascribe free variation explores linguistic basis