Why syntax is all about semantics and pragmatics

Nederlandse taalkunde, vol. 27, pp. 2–14

Abstract

In this paper I reanalyze the data provided in Barbiers (2018) on Dutch adverbs which occur in an embedded (complement) clause while they semantically pertain to the matrix (main) clause (or vice versa). Whereas Barbiers analyzes adverb placement in Dutch along the lines of the Cinque hierarchy (Cinque 1999), I will propose an analysis and explanation along semantic lines which does not need any movement, thereby stressing the importance of semantics and pragmatics in syntactic analyses.

Authors 1

1. Egbert Fortuin corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Universiteit Leiden