Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter August 18, 2011

Der Wortartenstatus des Elements je in der komparativen Korrelativkonstruktion

  • André Meinunger EMAIL logo

Abstract

Most grammars and text books list the element je in its correlative use as a subordinate conjunction. The present study shows that this classification is not correct. Je is rather a word or word-like element which introduces a larger constituent which occupies the clause initial position much like a question word, or more precisely an interrogative constituent. One of the pieces of evidence is the multiple occurrence of je(-constituents) inside the same clause, a finding which has never been recognized before. Furthermore it is shown – contrary to Bech (1964) – that je clauses are compatible with negation. The contribution ends with a speculative part in which je is proposed to be either a particle or else even a bound morpheme, lacking word status at altogether.


Adresse des Verfassers: Priv.-Doz. Dr. André Meinunger, Zentrum für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft, Schützenstraße 18, D-10117 Berlin.

Online erschienen: 2011-08-18
Erschienen im Druck: 2011-August
Downloaded on 23.4.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/zgl.2011.016/html
Scroll to top button