The Syntax of Focus Particles in
German Event vs. Result
Nominals
Anja Kleemann
Queen Mary, University of London
The Syntax / Information StructureInterface in German DPs
syntactic
structure of DPs
information
structure of DPs
The Relation between
Focus and Focus Particles
Context: Mary introduced Bill and Tom to
Sue and there were no other introductions
a) Mary introduced Bill to Sue
b) Mary introduced Tom to Sue
c) *Mary only introduced BILL to Sue
Aim of the Talk
To explain focus particle placement
in German DPs:
Event
Result
vs.
Nominals
Nominals
The Focus Particle Nur ‘Only’
within German DPs
sequences of focus particle and focus
a) [DP ... nur [AP / CP / DP focus ... ]]
b) [DP... focus nur ]
New Data – German DPs
Placement of nur in event vs. result nominals
Marys Absage
MaryGEN
nur
des
FRÜHEN
cancellation only the- early
GEN
Termins
appointmentGEN
*Das Programm nur
des
FRÜHEN Termins
The
theGEN
early
agenda
only
appointmentGEN
The Ambiguity of
Deverbal Nominals
The Syntax of
Nur ‘Only’ in DPs
Particle Theory by
Büring and Hartmann (2001)
• non-arguments
• max. projections
• c-command
the focus
• as close as
possible
Focus Particles don’t
adjoin to DPs
• *[PP P nur DP ]
• *[NP N nur DP ]
Particle Theory
on DP-internal DPs
• APs
• non-arg. CPs
Application to New Data
Verbal Properties of
Event Nominals - Adverbs
Event Nominals may contain adverbs
a) His explanation of the accident so
thoroughly (did not help him)
b) His friendly explanation of the accident
so thoroughly (did not help him)
c) *His version of the accident so
thorouhgly (did not help him)
The DP-internal VP by
Fu, Roeper and Borer (2001)
Verbal Properties of
Event Nominals – Focus Particles
*weil Mary den FRÜHEN Termin
nur absagt
as Mary the- early
appointment only cancel
ACC
Die
the
Absage
des
cancellation theGEN
FRÜHEN Termins
nur
early
appointment- only
GEN
The VP inside the Event Nominal
Programm
agenda
X
X
Combining the Theories
Particle
Theory
+
DP-internal
Verbal Proj.
Focus Particle
Placement in
Event vs. Result
Nominals
Conclusions:
Focus Particles within DPs
• Deverbal event nominals and non-deverbal result
nominals have different syntactic structures.
• Focus particles are further evidence that event
nominals contain a verbal projection.
• Büring and Hartmann (2001)’s Particle Theory
accounts for focus particle placement within DPs.
Thanks a lot!
Event Nominal
Absage ‘cancellation’
Application to New Data
The Focus Particle Nur ‘Only’
Peter gab nur MARY ein Buch
Peter gave only Mary a book
Peter gab Mary nur EIN BUCH
Peter gave Mary only a
book
Büring and Hartmann (2001)’s
Particle Theory