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On Ergativity in Modern Norwegian

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2008

John Ole Askedal
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Abstract

The present paper deals with the syntactic status of the indefinite NP in Norwegian existential-presentative constructions with a formal subject det in a typological perspective. It is argued that the NP in question is identifiable as a syntactic object both on account of its behaviour and control properties and its coding properties. Moreover, this analysis parallels Itkonen's description of “existential subjects” in Finnish as belonging to an “inverted ergative system”, which is clearly relationally different from the two kinds of ergativity systems described elsewhere in the literature.

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Type
Research Article
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Nordic Journal of Linguistics , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , June 1986 , pp. 25 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

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