New methodologies in the Nordic Syntax Database: Word order variation in Norwegian wh-questions

Abstract

Across Norwegian dialects, wh-questions show variation concerning word order possibilities, with many dialects allowing non-V2 word order. The acceptance of this order differs across dialects and depends on the complexity and function of the wh-element. This study examines data from 409 informants across 105 sites in the Nordic Syntax Database (NSD). Throughout the study, new methodologies are used in an attempt to overcome some of the limitations of the NSD-map building tool as well as present new insights from a more detailed assessment of the acceptability judgements. Analysis of the frequency of these acceptability judgements on four test items showed that four grammars could be distinguished: those that allow either only V2 word order; non-V2 word order across all wh-questions; non-V2 in all but long non-subject wh-questions; or non-V2 only with short whs. An apparent-time study of the data supports a diachronic connection between some but not all of the varieties.

Variable verb second in Norwegian main and embedded clauses

“…Firstly, non-V2 word order in wh-questions is produced almost exclusively with short wh-words, regardless of ±subjecthood status of the wh-element. This pattern is not unexpected: It is known that the main pattern in Northern Norway is to allow only short, but not long, wh-words with non-V2 word order in subject as well as non-subject questions (Westergaard et al 2017, Westendorp 2018). As a group, the non-Northern Norwegian speakers (N = 22) produce only 3.3% of their main clause wh-questions with non-V2 order.…”

Nordic Word Order Database: Motivations, methods, material and infrastructure

“…Factors playing a role in the word order possibilities and choice have been extensively discussed in Norwegian dialectology (see e.g. Åfarli 1986, Westergaard & Vangsnes 2005, Westergaard et al 2017, Westendorp 2018. This construction is thought to occur almost exclusively in Norwegian dialects, but in the NWD we now have a few examples of non-V2 subject wh-questions in Faroese.…”

The Nordic research infrastructure for syntactic variation: Possibilities, limitations and achievements

“…In this paper we have done little to put the data to statistical scrutiny. With data from over 100 locations and almost 400 individuals on a number of test sentences, the possibilities for doing so is certainly there, and one study which has approached the phenomenon in a systematic way by employing statistical methods is Westendorp (2017;2018). Without going into details, she argues that the statistics do not support all of the diachronic speculations put forth in Westergaard et al (2017) as to how Norwegian dialects -as the only ones across North Germanic -have developed this particular violation of Verb Second.…”

“…One phenomenon which all the same has received considerable attention is the lack of V2 in matrix wh-questions, see e.g. Iversen (1918), Elstad (1982), Nordgård (1985), Åfarli (1986), Taraldsen (1986), Lie (1992), Fiva (1996), Nilsen (1996), Westergaard (2003;2009a;b;, Westergaard & Vangsnes (2005), Vangsnes (2005) Westendorp (2017;2018), and Westergaard, Vangsnes & Lohndal (2017). Iversen (1918: 37) is an early source commenting on the phenomenon.…”