Linguistics 25560/35560

Comparative Germanic Syntax

Spring 2006


This course examines the comparative syntax of the Germanic languages, including German, Dutch, Afrikaans, Frisian, Yiddish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Faroese, and English. We explore questions of synchronic micro-and macrovariation, as well as the historical development of Germanic, through readings in the primary theoretical literature. Topics and languages may vary depending on participant interests and language expertise.


Syllabus (preliminary)

Linked readings

Alexiadou, Artemis and Gisbert Fanselow. 2002. On the correlation between morphology and syntax: The case of V-to-I. In: J.W. Zwart & W. Abraham, Studies in Comparative Germanic Syntax. Amsterdam, Benjamins. (download pdf)


Holmberg, Anders and Christer Platzack. 2005. The Scandinavian languages. Ch. 10 of The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Syntax, Guglielmo Cinque and Richard Kayne, editors. Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford. (ch. 10). (download pdf)


Zwart, Jan-Wouter. 2005a. Continental West-Germanic languages. Ch. 21 of The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Syntax, Guglielmo Cinque and Richard Kayne, editors. Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, pp. 903-946.  (download pdf)