Preposition Stranding
Preposition Stranding is a grammatical construction in which a preposition is not related to its associated object. It is a special form of prepositional phrases , also known as a split construction. In addition to the English term, the direct translation of preposition strands is sometimes used.
The phenomenon of preposition stranding is known to all Germanic languages , especially the English language and the Scandinavian languages . In the Dutch and German language it is rarely found in the standard language, but it is sometimes possible in colloquial and dialectal terms. Under the influence of English in particular, some non-Germanic language varieties have adopted preposition stranding regionally, including Vata and Gbadi from the Niger-Congo languages and French in the North American version.
construction
The splitting construction is preferred when elements are placed at the beginning of a sentence in order to meet the positional rule for question words or to achieve a topicalization . If this element was a supplement to a preposition, but the preposition is not dragged along, but remains within the sentence, then one speaks of preposition stranding.
- Hans cut the bread with the knife
- Hans also cut the bread.
- Where did Hans cut the bread?
- What did Hans cut the bread with?
In the last example sentence you can see that the standard German prefers a coherent expression instead of “stranding” of the supplement, which in the example even forms a word (“with which” is a so-called prepositional adverb ). It can be shown that the dialectal preposition stranding in the German language is not applied to people, but that splitting constructions are always related to objects.
- Hans came to the party with Maria.
- NOT: * Hans came to the party. (with "da" = "Maria")
In some regional language varieties of Standard German, however, splitting constructions in colloquial language are more common than the combination of prepositions and object pronouns.
- Standard German: I can think of them buy anything.
- When pulled apart: I can because nothing of purchase.
- Preceded by: Since I can not from now.
In southern German dialects and varieties of German, these splitting constructions are only used with a doubling of the particles:
- South German: I can because nothing of it now.
- Süddeutsch (prefixed): Since I can not it buy.
Preposition Stranding in the English Language
In modern English, preposition stranding occurs regularly in interrogative and relative clauses:
- What are you talking about ? (What are you talking about - instead of - What are you talking about).
- Where do you go to ? (Where are you going - instead of - where are you going).
In relative constructions, the determining "that" (or "who", "whom") is placed at the beginning of the relative clause (usually between the main and subordinate clauses), while the preposition remains at the end. In many relative clauses the expression of the relative pronoun is omitted and the preposition at the end of the relative clause is the only remainder of the prepositional phrase.
- This is the book that I told you about . (This is the book I told you about - instead of - This is the book I told you about).
- This is the book I told you about .
Such constructions were increasingly frowned upon in the English language since the mid-18th century, although it is a typical element of the English language. They were considered to be shibboleths , which cannot be found in the written language.
Preposition stranding has been very common since the Old English language level. The first written evidence of a criticism is found in 1672 and only in relation to a special case. It was not until the middle of the 18th century that there was written evidence for recommendations to avoid the construction generally in "solemn and elevated style" (Robert Lowth). Only through the school system is the ban extended to letters and even the spoken language (mainly to pretend belonging to a higher social class).
Even today this construction, which is typical of English, is strongly criticized by most teachers in English-speaking countries, although since the emergence of modern linguistics all linguists and even more and more commercial language advisors have emphasized the absurdity of this ban. Nevertheless, the construction has not completely lost its stigma of inadequate speaking skills. The ban (like most other bans taught in English-speaking schools on widespread English language phenomena) arose from a false analogy with the Latin language.
Preposition Stranding in the French Language
The French language with a strong English influence knows preposition stranding - examples of sentences from the Alberta, Northern Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Louisiana area are known. The following forms are known in Quebec French .
- Qui est-ce que tu as fait le gâteau pour?
- instead of: Pour qui as-tu fait le gâteau?
- (Who did you bake the cake to?)
- Tu connais pas la fille que je te parle de.
- instead of: Tu ne connais pas la fille dont je te parle.
- (Also spreads Tu ne connais pas la fille que je te parle.)
Preposition stranding in the Dutch language
- Welk bos i liep hij ___ i in?
- (What forest did he go into?)
- [...] dat hij zo'n donker bos niet in was allowed to te lopen [...]
- (... that he doesn't dare to go into such a dark forest ...)
Such forms are understandable in the German language, but mostly limited to poetic constructions.
literature
- ^ The syntax of pronominal adverbs in dialects of German , Jürg Fleischer , Franz Steiner Verlag, 2002. ISBN 3515082379 , ISBN 9783515082372
- ↑ [1]