Workshop on Inversion and Verb Movement

The Word Order of Embedded Clauses in Norwegian Child Language

Marit R. Westergaard
University of Tromsø, NORMS/CASTL

Kristine Bentzen
University of Tromsø, CASTL

There is generally no verb movement or V2 in Norwegian embedded clauses. In this paper we investigate two embedded constructions in Norwegian child language with similarly low input frequencies (approximately 1-2%): (i) embedded clauses with nega­tion/adverbs and (ii) embedded questions. Despite similar input frequencies, children are found to overgeneralize main clause word order in the former structure, but not in the latter. That is, verb movement is attested in embedded clauses across negation/adverbs, but not across the subject. We acount for this in a split-CP model of clause structure and a continuity approach to language acquisition which includes structural economy.