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Verb-first constructions as a syntactic and functional resource in (spoken) Swedish

Lindström, Jan and Karlsson, Susanna LU (2003) In Nordic Journal of Linguistics 28(1). p.97-131
Abstract
This paper explores different syntactic variations and functional properties of clausal

units that are initiated by the finite verb in Swedish. We focus on V1 constructions that are

basically declarative in function, thus excluding interrogative, conditional and directive

uses. Because V1 constructions, and particularly certain variants of them, are typical of

spoken Swedish, our examples and analyses focus primarily on the usage in speaking.

The V1 constructions studied include whole-utterance constructions in conversational

sequences, utterance-internal extensions, and utterance-internal reshapings, such as

syntactic blends. We will offer an analysis of (declarative)... (More)
This paper explores different syntactic variations and functional properties of clausal

units that are initiated by the finite verb in Swedish. We focus on V1 constructions that are

basically declarative in function, thus excluding interrogative, conditional and directive

uses. Because V1 constructions, and particularly certain variants of them, are typical of

spoken Swedish, our examples and analyses focus primarily on the usage in speaking.

The V1 constructions studied include whole-utterance constructions in conversational

sequences, utterance-internal extensions, and utterance-internal reshapings, such as

syntactic blends. We will offer an analysis of (declarative) V1 constructions, which in

some respects differs from analyses proposed by generative syntacticians or traditional

grammarians. Our analysis of the constructional resource is discourse oriented. In this

perspective, V1 constructions are analyzable as sequentially dependent, second, or

‘subsequent’ moves, viz. units that can scarcely initiate a communicative project but which

instead continue, extend or comment on an already initiated project. Thus, rather than

analyzing V1 constructions as one type of ellipsis they could be seen as full-fledged clausal

units whose existence is conditioned by their position in a discourse or utterance context.

From a theoretical perspective, this paper is a contribution to an emerging dialogical or

interactional model of (Swedish) grammar. (Less)
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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
CA, functional analysis, Interactional Linguistics, natural language corpora, Swedish, V1
in
Nordic Journal of Linguistics
volume
28
issue
1
pages
97 - 131
publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISSN
0332-5865
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Swedish (015011001)
id
3c77c600-0f14-4ca7-8bc0-15f3d264ae0b (old id 1458677)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 14:23:24
date last changed
2020-05-28 14:48:03
@article{3c77c600-0f14-4ca7-8bc0-15f3d264ae0b,
  abstract     = {{This paper explores different syntactic variations and functional properties of clausal <br/><br>
units that are initiated by the finite verb in Swedish. We focus on V1 constructions that are <br/><br>
basically declarative in function, thus excluding interrogative, conditional and directive <br/><br>
uses. Because V1 constructions, and particularly certain variants of them, are typical of <br/><br>
spoken Swedish, our examples and analyses focus primarily on the usage in speaking. <br/><br>
The V1 constructions studied include whole-utterance constructions in conversational <br/><br>
sequences, utterance-internal extensions, and utterance-internal reshapings, such as <br/><br>
syntactic blends. We will offer an analysis of (declarative) V1 constructions, which in <br/><br>
some respects differs from analyses proposed by generative syntacticians or traditional <br/><br>
grammarians. Our analysis of the constructional resource is discourse oriented. In this <br/><br>
perspective, V1 constructions are analyzable as sequentially dependent, second, or <br/><br>
‘subsequent’ moves, viz. units that can scarcely initiate a communicative project but which <br/><br>
instead continue, extend or comment on an already initiated project. Thus, rather than <br/><br>
analyzing V1 constructions as one type of ellipsis they could be seen as full-fledged clausal <br/><br>
units whose existence is conditioned by their position in a discourse or utterance context. <br/><br>
From a theoretical perspective, this paper is a contribution to an emerging dialogical or <br/><br>
interactional model of (Swedish) grammar.}},
  author       = {{Lindström, Jan and Karlsson, Susanna}},
  issn         = {{0332-5865}},
  keywords     = {{CA; functional analysis; Interactional Linguistics; natural language corpora; Swedish; V1}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{97--131}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Nordic Journal of Linguistics}},
  title        = {{Verb-first constructions as a syntactic and functional resource in (spoken) Swedish}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}