Formal modeling considerations for independent clause with implicit and vacant subject in some germanic languages

Abstract

There have been considered independent clauses with implicit and vacant subject, which refer to narrative and interrogative sentences with ascertained subject, as well as to interrogative sentences with non-ascertained subject. The languages particularly involved are English, Dutch and Swedish. The consideration is restricted by affirmative sentences. Within the binomiality idea a formal modeling is undertaken to explain the syntactical nature of the formal particle in a subject. Main and secondary substantive/verbal sentence parts are assumed to consist of two parts — space/time specifier or proto-specifier and substantive/verbal semifinitive. The formal particle in a subject is associated with strong or super-strong space specifier. In independent interrogative sentence, as well as in dependent interrogative and narrative one, the fixing of principal substantive semifinitive is postulated to start with super-strong specifier. In independent narrative sentence the fixing of principal substantive semifinitive is postulated to start with weak specifier. It is proposed, that in independent/dependent clauses the use of the formal particle is stipulated by possible opposition of fixing verbal semifinitive against the pressure of outer space, as well as by informativity of interrogative (narrative)/conjunctive element. For dependent clauses it is also established, that the formal particle in Danish can fill the vacant substantive semifinitive and terminate its being vacant; Swedish uses for this, instead of the formal particle, an adverbial-substantive unit. Filling the vacant substantive semifinitive makes the main sentence parts complete and dependent clause becomes more similar to independent one. It confirms the statement of the binomiality idea, that narrative and interrogative dependent clause is syntactically «inbetween» narrative independent clause and interrogative independent clause. Still, the use of vacant or explicit substantive semifinitive can be stipulated, like in Danish, by the informativity of the conjunctive element. In case of a high informativity of the conjunctive element the substantive semifinitive may remain vacant.