A perspective on doubling constructions in Dutch

Abstract

Scope-bearing elements for negations and questions may appear in Dutch child language as “doubling” constructions. The doublings are not part of the adult system. They arise spontaneously in early and later child language. The early doublings have a <+neg>-element or a <+Q/+wh>-element in sentence-initial position and double it by means of a sentence adverb in a sentence-final position. These doublings disappear in child Dutch after the acquisition of V-second. A later temporary doubling appears in negative constructions that contain a quantifier. The analysis below will consider the temporary doublings in child Dutch as attempts to maintain an earlier, more simplified construction. Temporary options in child language may result from a learnability hierarchy.