Subject Extraction out of Free Relatives in Norwegian

• Main Author: Anya Hogoboom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2004-01-01
• Series: Nordlyd: Tromsø University Working Papers on Language & Linguistics
• Subjects: Wh-island; Free Relative; Subject Extraction; Norwegian Language
• Online Access: https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/nordlyd/article/view/20

This article examines an anomalous construction in Norwegian that appears to be leftward extraction of a subject out of a wh island. This extraction seems to be allowed out of a free relative clause in adjunct position, under certain semantic conditions. The range of this construction is tested and reported on. It is found that this extraction is only allowed when the matrix verb and the free relative verb fall into certain categories. In addition, there are also restrictions on the extracted subject. An explanation as to why the components of the sentence in such extractions are restricted in the way they are is put forth.