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Double accusatives in German: An application of CRMS-theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2008

Peter Rolf Lutzeier
Peter Rolf Lutzeier
Affiliation:
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenInstitut für deutsche PhilologieMunich, Germany
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Abstract

This article addresses a problem at the interface between morpho-syntax and semantics: How to treat “double-accusative” constructions in German. The solution is given in relational terms, which suits the framework of CRMS-theory*. With regard to the first type of “double accusative” constructions [sie lehrt ihn die deutsche sprache ‘she teaches him the German language’], the option of different case marking is explained by general principles of CRMS-theory. With regard to the second type [sie nennt ihn einen lügner ‘she calls him a liar’], the clue for its full understanding comes from the following observation: in addition to the accusative marking of both complements there is a strong semantic tie between the two. That is why traditional grammar rightly speaks of such forms as einen lügner as an “accusative of identification”. As this idea of identification is realized at the content level in my approach, I do not see any reason for establishing a special relation “predicative” for the second type.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Germanic Linguistics , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , January 1992 , pp. 55 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Germanic Linguistics 1992

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