German Word Order Research Articles

Zur Abfolge im Mittelfeld des Deutschen. Eine methodische Etüde

AbstractThis article reviews foundational research on the problem of unmarked word order in German. Focussing on the two most influential seminal papers by Lenerz (1977) and Höhle (1982), I argue that their attempts to determine unmarked, normal word order (either by definition or by explication) is flawed by the fact that both authors presuppose a certain empirical data base without offering a complete grammatical analysis of the data in question. I contend that a more comprehensive, linguistically satisfying analysis of these data will in turn presuppose apre-givennotion of unmarked, normal word order, thus making for a circular definition or explication.As is well-known, normal word order interacts with factors like point of view, thematic roles, animacy, and others. I will argue that influential suggestions for designing a precise theory of these interactions are unsuccessful on both methodological and empirical grounds. I suggest that the traditional modular analysis based on cumulation and treshold values is still the best model we have at present; however, a large and hitherto unresolved issue is the vast variety of contradicting acceptability judgments found in the literature. A careful analysis of these meta-data should enable us to determine paradigmatic core cases while, at the same time, leave room for deviations in various directions, and even for individual ad hoc preferences at the periphery.

The effect of word transpositions on grammaticality judgements in first and second language sentence reading.

This study investigated the cross-language influence of a reader's first language (L1, German) grammar knowledge on the syntactic processing of sentences in their second language (L2, English), using a grammaticality judgement task and comparing results with monolingual L1 English-speakers. In Experiment 1, unbalanced bilinguals (N = 82) read sentences in their L1 German and L2 English that were either grammatical in German but not English, grammatical in English but not German, or ungrammatical in both languages. Sentences were presented in mixed-language blocks. Grammaticality judgements were less accurate and slower for ungrammatical L2 sentences that were grammatical in their literal L1 translation, compared with sentences that were ungrammatical in both languages. Experiment 2 replicated these findings with an independent German-English bilingual sample (N = 78), using monolingual language blocks. In Experiment 3, effects were absent in decision accuracy and weaker in decision latency for monolingual English readers (N = 54). A post hoc validation study with an independent sample of L1 English-speakers (n = 21) provided further evidence that the ungrammatical English sentences with German word order were indeed less natural and grammatically acceptable to L1 English-speakers than the grammatical English sentences. These findings suggest that, consistent with competition models of language comprehension, multiple languages are simultaneously active and can compete during syntactic processing. However, due to the complex nature of cross-language comparisons, the cross-language transfer effects are likely to be driven by multiple interacting factors, of which one is cross-language transfer.

On word order and non-conservative percentage quantification in Slavic and German

This paper discusses conservative and non-conservative construals of percentage quantifiers (%Qs), e.g., 50% of the women vs. 50% women, in Slavic and German. Based on data from corpora and cross-linguistic questionnaires, we make the novel empirical generalization that word order plays a crucial role in distinguishing between these two readings, irrespective of whether there is an additional difference between definite vs. bare nominals (German, Bulgarian, Macedonian) or not (the other Slavic languages). Specifically, non-conservative %Qs appear low in the structure, inside the VP, whereas conservative %Qs either appear in their canonical position, depending on their syntactic role as subject or object (German, Bulgarian), or high/VP-externally (the other Slavic languages). We propose that non-conservative %Qs are always interpreted low and combine with the predicate on a par with semantically incorporated nominals and, with intransitves, existential constructions. We argue against previous accounts that ascribe a crucial role to focus for the non-conservative reading to arise, in taking focus to merely be derivative from the requirement of non-conservative %Qs to appear low, paired with a general rule for sentential stress placement.

Interactions between lexical and syntactic L1-L2 overlap: Effects of gender congruency on L2 sentence processing in L1 Spanish-L2 German speakers

AbstractBringing together lines of research from sentence processing and lexical access, this empirical study investigates the interplay between lexical (grammatical gender) and syntactic (word order) cross-linguistic overlap in L2 German. Eighty-six L1 Spanish-L2 German and thirty-six monolingual German adults completed a German self-paced reading task with noun phrases (NPs) manipulated by L1-L2 gender congruency (congruent, incongruent, neuter) and L1-L2 adjective-noun word order (pre- vs. postnominal adjectives). The study examines the effects of gender congruency, the type of L1-L2 gender mapping (i.e., presence vs. absence of each class in L1 and L2), and L2 proficiency level. Results show that the detection of ungrammatical word order in L2 German interacts with gender congruency, in that L2 speakers are only sensitive to word order violations for sentences with gender-congruent nouns. The detection of ungrammaticality for sentences containing gender-incongruent nouns only emerges at higher L2 proficiency levels. These findings underscore the role of cross-linguistic lexical overlap in syntactic processing.

An ERP Evidence on the German Scrambled Sentence Processing of Korean L2 Learners

In this ERP study, we investigated the Korean German learners’ perception of differences between canonical word order and non-canonical word order in German. The experimental materials were constructed by manipulating the canonical word order factor, i.e. nominative-first vs. dative or accusative-first in subordinate sentences in German. During the sentence comprehension, the brain responses of 15 participants in the intermediate level of German were recorded and analyzed. As a result of the experiment, the positivity was elicited at the verb region in the dative-first sentences. In contrast, the positivity was obtained from the all region(first noun region, second noun region, verb region) in the accusative-first sentences. These difference demonstrates that Korean German learners could recognize canonical word order in the accusative sentences, but not in the dative one.

Syntactic variation and interactional coherence in online communication: The German conjunction “weil” in written interactions

Abstract The current study presents an analysis of a linguistic device supporting interactional coherence in computer-mediated communication (CMC). The analysis focused on the use of the German causative conjunction weil and, more specifically, on the syntactic variation of verb-final versus verb-second word order in the weil-clause. Verb-final word order in German indicates a dependent clause, whereas verb-second word order indicates an independent clause. While only the former is accepted in written Standard German, the latter is well documented in oral communication. Relying on freely available Facebook, WhatsApp, and Wikipedia corpus data, the analysis shows that both grammatical constructions are used in written CMC. In a specific usage across discrete messages, the syntactic variation of the weil-clause can serve to unambiguously identify its reference clause. While verb-final weil-clauses can be used to refer to previous messages by both an interlocutor and oneself, verb-second weil-clauses are predominantly used to relate to an own previous message. Thus, the syntactic variation in weil-clauses can be used for disambiguating references in written interactions.

The effects of language input on word order in German as a heritage and majority language

ABSTRACT This study addresses the question of how the main factors related to input—including the environment in which children are exposed to both languages, the relative timing of the onset of the exposure to them and the amount of input—affect bilingual language acquisition at primary-school age. We examined the data of 42 German Polish bilinguals who had acquired German from birth and German monolinguals, comparing on the one hand simultaneous bilingual children speaking German as a majority language with simultaneous bilinguals who speak German as a heritage language and, on the other hand, comparing heritage speakers of German who are simultaneous bilinguals with those who are sequential bilinguals. We studied their word order patterns in German, specifically the position of verb and negation, by dint of several tasks including acceptability judgment, forced choice, sentence repetition, and narrative tasks. The results revealed the effect of all three factors on word order patterns used by bilinguals between the ages of 7 and 13. The performance of simultaneous bilingual heritage speakers varies across the tasks. We conclude that they have problems inhibiting their stronger language in tasks that place higher demands on processor, leading to a non-target-like performance in their weaker language in producing narratives.

The use of blocking and inhibition training in processing instruction

Abstract Previous research has suggested that L2 learners often use non-target processing strategies to understand sentences, but that these strategies can be changed through targeted instruction that directs their attention to different linguistic forms or structures. The present study explores the effects of pretraining ‘blocking’ practice—a novel type of training designed to help learners inhibit the application of a strict word-order based processing strategy—prior to receiving a traditional Structured Input (SI) training focused on OVS word order and accusative case markers in German. The study compares three groups of third-semester German learners who completed three different activities in one training session: (1) SI with blocking practice (+BP), (2) SI preceded by explicit information (+EI), and (3) SI without EI or blocking practice (−EI). The effects of training were measured by sentence-level interpretation and production tasks administered as a pretest, posttest, and four-week delayed posttest. Learner performance was also assessed during training. Results in all assessment measures indicated that EI was most effective, but that blocking practice lent a slight advantage over −EI groups during and after training. These results are discussed in the context of studies on processing instruction and learned attention.

Latin influence on German word order?

Abstract Behaghel’s claim that verb finality in German dependent clauses (DCs) reflects Latin influence (1892, 1932) has been revived by Chirita (1997, 2003). According to Chirita, DC word order remains variable up to Early New High German, while in Latin, verb-finality is more frequent in DCs than main clauses (MCs); hence, she claims, German verb finality reflects Latin influence. This papers shows that the arguments for Latin influence are problematic and that the Modern German word order difference between MCs and DCs can be explained as the ultimate outcome of developments that started in early North and West Germanic. In the conclusion I briefly discuss similar developments in Western Romance and their implications for European contact linguistics.

Visual attention-capture cue in depicted scenes fails to modulate online sentence processing

Everyday communication is enriched by the visual environment that listeners concomitantly link to the linguistic input. If and when visual cues are integrated into the mental meaning representation of the communicative setting, is still unclear. In our earlier findings, the integration of linguistic cues (i.e., topic-hood of a discourse referent) reduced discourse updating costs of the mental representation as indicated by reduced sentence-initial processing costs of the non-canonical word order in German. In the present study we tried to replicate our earlier findings by replacing the linguistic cue by a visual attention-capture cue presented below the threshold of perception in order to direct participant’s attention to a depicted referent. While this type of cue has previously been shown to modulate word order preferences in sentence production, we found no effects on sentence comprehension. We discuss possible theory-based reasons for the null effect of the implicit visual cue as well as methodological caveats and issues that should be considered in future research on multimodal meaning integration.

Englisch als Interferenzquelle bei der Aneignung der Wortstellung des Deutschen

The paper deals with the issue of the interaction of languages in a multilingual person. First, it is related to an error analysis of the word order in German which investigates the influence of English as the first foreign language with the bounded word order on German as the second foreign language with the relative bounded word order in the group of Polish high school students. Afterwards, the basic structures of German, English and Polish word order are compared to show the topological relationship between the languages.

Slovenščina in nemščina kontrastivno: besedni red na osnovi kontrastivnega modela

The article discusses word order in German and Slovenian contrastively, focusing on the rules of fixed word order and the possibility of free word order in sentences. In German, verb forms create the sentence frame, which is the basic building template, and simultaneously give rise to the typical characteristic of German sentences. Such frames are atypical in Slovenian. Selected sentences in both languages were analysed on the basis of the contrastive model developed by A. Wöllstein. The article presents the differences and similarities of word order in simple sentences in both languages, while also providing suggestions on how to adjust the model to the Slovenian language.

НАВЧАННЯ ДРУГОЇ ІНОЗЕМНОЇ МОВИ В СТАРШІЙ ШКОЛІ ЧЕСЬКОЇ РЕСПУБЛІКИ: ЛІНГВОДИДАКТИЧНІ ПРИНЦИПИ ТА ТИПИ МОВНОЇ ІНТЕРФЕРЕНЦІЇ

W artykule dokonano analizy lingwodydaktycznych zasad nauczania drugiego języka obcego w gimnazjum w Czechach. Język angielski postrzegany jest jako pierwszy język obcy. Przeprowadzono analizę rodzajów interferencji językowych. Wyróżniono pewne struktury gramatyczne, szereg wyrazów w języku angielskim i niemieckim. Określono wpływ języka ojczystego na proces uczenia się drugiego języka obcego.

Mirative fronting in German

Abstract This paper presents an examination of syntactic constructions that are associated with the mirative interpretation of marking propositional content as being surprising or unexpected to the speaker. I report experimental evidence showing that certain options of marked word order in German are particularly suitable in mirative contexts. Cross-linguistic evidence offers good reasons to assume that mirative marking is also reflected in word order patterns. Having identified word order variation as one option to trigger mirative interpretations of utterances, I discuss the issue of distinguishing between information-structural and mirative effects of marked syntactic configurations.

Complement Coercion: The Joint Effects of Type and Typicality.

Complement coercion (begin a book →reading) involves a type clash between an event-selecting verb and an entity-denoting object, triggering a covert event (reading). Two main factors involved in complement coercion have been investigated: the semantic type of the object (event vs. entity), and the typicality of the covert event (the author began a book →writing). In previous research, reading times have been measured at the object. However, the influence of the typicality of the subject–object combination on processing an aspectual verb such as begin has not been studied. Using a self-paced reading study, we manipulated semantic type and subject–object typicality, exploiting German word order to measure reading times at the aspectual verb. These variables interacted at the target verb. We conclude that both type and typicality probabilistically guide expectations about upcoming input. These results are compatible with an expectation-based view of complement coercion and language comprehension more generally in which there is rapid interaction between what is typically viewed as linguistic knowledge, and what is typically viewed as domain general knowledge about how the world works.

Verbstellung in Nebensätzen im Texasdeutschen

This article discusses word order of dependent clauses in Texas German, a German speech island on the brink of language death. The focus lies on dependent clauses that are introduced by subordinating conjunctions. The question is whether the verb placement differs from the Standard German word order, and, if such a difference can be established, whether the change is due to language internal or external factors. To answer this question, various theories from the general research on language contact are used to interpret the Texas German data, and to connect it to the larger discussion of language change in German speech islands in the US.

The priming of word order in second language German

ABSTRACTThe present study investigates the priming and subsequent production of word order variation (adverb–verb–subject vs. subject–verb–adverb order) with temporal phrases (Experiment 1) and locative phrases (Experiment 2) among intermediate English–German second language learners. Participants exhibited comparable short-term priming for adverb-first word order in both experiments. In the initial baseline phase, participants produced adverb-first sentences with temporal phrases but not locative phrases, and only temporal phrases led to significant long-term priming, as measured in a postpriming phase. This suggests that at lower proficiency levels, long-term, but not short-term, priming may depend on the stability of specific semantically constrained constructions rather than more generalized syntactic representations and that such cumulative effects may be shaped by preferences for a particular construction in the native language.

Syntactic restructuring in heritage grammars

In order to elucidate the structure of heritage grammars, this paper presents an analysis of word order variation in Moundridge Schweitzer German (MSG), a moribund heritage variety of German spoken in South Central Kansas. Based on elicited production data and an acceptability judgment task, we show that the current state of the MSG grammar maintains the asymmetric German verb-second (V2) and verb-final (V-final) word-ordering closely tied to specific pragmatic information associated with clause-types and complementizers. Extensive contact with English does not lead to adoption of English word order; rather, it occasions restructuring of German word order within the constraints of German syntax. We model these findings in a syntactic analysis following recent proposals byPutnam & Sánchez (2013)andPolinsky (2011)that challenge the notion of ‘incomplete acquisition’ as a way to conceptualize heritage language acquisition.

Thematic Asymmetries Do Matter! A Corpus Study of German Word Order

This article addresses the question of whether the influence of thematic roles (in particular, experiencers and patients) on word order is an epiphenomenal effect of other factors (such as information structure and animacy). For this purpose, I have investigated argument realization with different verb classes, including canonical verbs and either agentive or nonagentive experiencer-object verbs with varying case marking (dative or accusative), in a large corpus of written German. The obtained results indicate that the experiencer-first effect is at least to some extent triggered by other factors, in particular animacy. However, after subtracting the effect resulting from these factors, the impact of the thematic properties remains, and therefore it is necessary to explain the whole range of data.*

Priming word order by thematic roles: No evidence for an additional involvement of phrase structure

Three experiments are reported that studied the priming of word order in German. Experiment 1 demonstrated priming of the order of case-marked verb arguments. However, order of noun phrases and order of thematic roles were confounded. In Experiment 2, we therefore aimed at disentangling the impact of these two possible factors. By using primes that differed from targets in phrase structure but were parallel with regard to the order of thematic roles, we nevertheless found priming demonstrating the critical impact of thematic roles. Experiment 3 replicated the priming effects from Experiments 1 and 2 within participants and revealed no evidence for a modulation of priming by phrase structure. Consequently, our findings suggest that word order priming crucially depends on the structural outline of thematic roles rather than on the linearization of phrases.