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A minimalist analysis of expletive daar (“there”) and dit (“it”) constructions in Afrikaans

Thesis (MA (General Linguistics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study deals with syntactic aspects of expletive daar (“there”) and dit (“it”)
constructions in Afrikaans. Previous analyses of these constructions have mostly been of a
non-formalistic nature (e.g. Barnes 1984; Donaldson 1993; Du Plessis 1977; Ponelis 1979,
1993). The present study investigates the properties of Afrikaans expletive constructions
within the broad theoretical framework of Minimalist Syntax. Four recent minimalist
analyses of expletive constructions in English, Dutch and German are set out, namely those
proposed by Bowers (2002), Felser and Rupp (2001), Richards and Biberauer (2005), and
Radford (2009). Against this background, an analysis is proposed of transitive, non-passive
unaccusative, passive unaccusative, and unergative expletive constructions in Afrikaans.
Throughout, the focus is on whether the devices available within Minimalist Syntax, and
specifically the Expletive Conditions proposed by Radford (2009), provide an adequate
framework in which the relevant facts of Afrikaans can be described and explained. Where
required, modifications to the devices in question are proposed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie handel oor sintaktiese aspekte van ekspletiewe daar- en dit-konstruksies in
Afrikaans. Vorige analises van dié konstruksies was grootliks nie-formalisties van aard
(bv. Barnes 1984; Donaldson 1993; Du Plessis 1977; Ponelis 1979, 1993). Die huidige
studie ondersoek die eienskappe van Afrikaanse ekspletiewe konstruksies binne die breë
teoretiese raamwerk van Minimalistiese Sintaksis. Vier onlangse minimalistiese analises
van ekspletiewe konstruksies in Engels, Nederlands en Duits word uiteengesit, naamlik dié
wat voorgestel is deur Bowers (2002), Felser en Rupp (2001), Richards en Biberauer
(2005), en Radford (2009). Teen hierdie agtergrond word ’n analise voorgestel van
transitiewe, nie-passiewe onakkusatiewe, passiewe onakkusatiewe, en onergatiewe
ekspletiewe konstruksies in Afrikaans. Die fokus is deurgaans op die vraag of die
meganismes wat beskikbaar is binne Minimalistiese Sintaksis, en spesifiek die drie
Ekspletiewe Voorwaardes wat voorgestel word deur Radford (2009), ’n toereikende
raamwerk bied waarbinne die tersaaklike feite van Afrikaans beskryf en verklaar kan word.
Waar nodig, word aanpassings aan die betrokke meganismes voorgestel.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6513
Date03 1900
CreatorsDe Bruin, Jeané
ContributorsOosthuizen, J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of General Linguistics.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format100 p. : ill.
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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