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Document Details : Title: German Particle and Prefix Verbs at the Syntax-Phonology Interface Author(s): BISKUP, Petr , PUTNAM, Michael , SMITH, Laura Catharine Journal: Leuvense Bijdragen - Leuven Contributions in Linguistics and Philology Volume: 97 Date: 2011 Pages: 106-135 DOI: 10.2143/LB.97.0.2977249 Abstract : In this paper we provide a derivational, minimalist account of the construction of particle and prefix verbs in German. In particular, we focus on the different stress patterns associated with particle and prefix verbs and on the positioning of the bound morpheme zu 'to' in particle and prefix verbs. Building upon an earlier proposal put forward by Biskup & Putnam (to appear), we assume that particle and prefix verbs are derived from similar derivational mechanisms. They differ only with respect to whether or not the preposition incorporates into the root. This distinction is the base for the different behavior of prefix and particle verbs with respect to the stress pattern and the position of the infinitival marker zu. Since German particles are prepositions that remain in the prepositional phrase, they allow zu to intervene between them and the verb. For this reason, they constitute a strong prosodic word and bear the primary stress in the particle verb. In contrast, verbal prefixes are incorporated prepositions, hence zu cannot be inserted between the prefix and the verb later in the derivation. Consequently, verbal prefixes form a weak prosodic word in combination with the verb and cannot bear the primary stress. Finally, in this paper we explore whether a phase-based model of syntactic theory can account for the syntax-phonology interface issues that ensue within a derivational approach to particle and prefix verb formation in German. |
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