Residual V-to-I

Abstract

Abstract This chapter examines new data from Older and Modern Faroese, Older Scots, and Shetland Dialect that bring into question the nature of the relationship between the richness of morphology and (the loss of) V-to-I. It begins with an overview of V-to-I in Modern Icelandic and contrasts the Icelandic facts with those of Mainland Scandinavian, showing how Icelandic and Mainland Scandinavian differ with respect to V-to-I. It then presents an overview of V-to-I in Faroese from a diachronic and synchronic perspective, arguing that Older Faroese had V-to-I, whereas there is dialect split with respect to V-to-I in Modern Faroese. The chapter discusses residual V-to-I in Shetland Dialect both from a synchronic and diachronic perspective. Finally, it discusses syntactic triggers for V-to-I in light of the fact that Older Scots and Shetland Dialect had V-to-I in the absence of rich agreement morphology for a long period in their history.