Choice of non-referential subject in existential constructions and with weather-verbs

Ida Larsson

doi:10.5617/nals.5367

Abstract

All the Scandinavian languages have overt non-referential subjects in e.g. impersonal or existential constructions and with weather-verbs like rain. It is, however, well known that the properties of the nonreferential element vary between varieties and constructions (see e.g. Platzack 1983, Falk 1993, Holmberg & Platzack 1995, Vikner 1995, Svenonius 2002, Thrainsson et al. 2004, Thrainsson 2007). Icelandic, Swedish and varieties of Norwegian use a form identical to the neuter pronoun (like English it) in all kinds of constructions with non-referential subjects. In Danish, on the other hand, the pronominal form det ‘it’ is used as a quasi-argumental subject with weather-verbs and in extrapositions, but a locative form corresponding to English there or here is used (to a varying extent) in other types of sentences with non-referential subjects; see (1). According to Hansen & Heltoft (2011:1216), her ‘here’ can always be used instead of der ‘there’. In some cases, there is a choice between a locative and the pronominal expletive, but in other cases, only one of the forms is possible; cf. (2) and (3).

Highlights

All the Scandinavian languages have overt non-referential subjects in e.g. impersonal or existential constructions and with weather-verbs like rain
The difference between older and younger speakers seems to be even greater with regard to the presentational sentence with där ‘there’ (5a) (#969); see Map 8 and 9 below
We could assume that the presence of an initial locative allows an expletive to be omitted, and this would be one way of accounting for the fact that the form här ‘here’ to some of the Swedish-speaking informants is more acceptable in the weathersentence than in the presentational sentence

Summary

Introduction

All the Scandinavian languages have overt non-referential subjects in e.g. impersonal or existential constructions and with weather-verbs like rain. Pronominal det ‘it’ as non-referential subject The sentence det snør ‘it snows’ (#968) with a weather-verb and the pronominal expletive is judged acceptable all across Norway, Sweden and Finland (see Map 1). Pronominal det ‘it’ is the most widespread non-referential subject form in the presentational sentence with an unaccusative verb.

Results

Conclusion