Correlative Adverbs in Germanic Languages

Abstract

Correlative words like either, both and neither have not been adequately discussed in the literature. Schwarz (1999) and Larson (1985) give an account of some of them (mainly either) in terms of reduction and movement, respectively, but their theories, as they stand, cannot account for data from Germanic languages. Instead, there is evidence for Hendriks's (2002, 2001a, 2001b) idea that correlatives are focus particles. This paper presents a syntactic analysis which includes both overt movement and covert movement (akin to QR), inspired by Larson (1985) as well as Bayer (1996). It is central for the account that correlative particles are akin to adverbs, and can be analysed in terms of adverbial positions in a Cinquean way. Included in the paper will also be a presentation of differences between correlatives with respect to V2 in and across languages.