The Syntax of the V3 Particlesåin the Swedish Left Periphery

Abstract

AbstractA characteristic feature of the left periphery in Mainland Scandinavian is the particle så occurring optionally between certain fronted constituents and the finite verb in root clauses. Following Kristin Melum Eide, the particle will be analyzed as the spell-out of a head encoding declarative Force (D-Force) in the C-domain, which attracts a constituent in spec-FinP. The D-Force head includes an unvalued feature [uF]. When the attracted constituent is a nominal category, [uF] copies its nominal features; this is how so-called Copy Left Dislocation is derived. When the attracted constituent is an adjunct, the head can be, and when it is an ,adverb or other nonreferential category must be, spelled out as the invariant så, the default spell-out of [F]. Exceptions include wh-adjuncts, the fronted negation, and certain other focused constituents. The particle så in Fenno-Swedish has a freer distribution: it can spell out the D-Force head regardless of the features of the attracted constituent, with the exception of pure operators, including non-D-linked wh-phrases and focused polarity items.