Syntax of Dutch: The data setŽ1

Abstract

Abstract This article is a rejoinder to the various reviews of the Syntax of Dutch (2012-2016) that have appeared in this and earlier volumes of Nederlandse Taalkunde. It focuses especially on one recurring theme in these reviews: the use of introspection for collecting data. Although many reviewers are of the opinion that data extracted from corpora are to be preferred, I will argue that such data are of limited use for the Syntax of Dutch, given that it involves competence rather than performance research: it aims at describing the internal structure of phrases and sentences and not the actual use of these structures.