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Constraints on nonstandard -s in expletive there sentences: a generative–variationist perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2005

LAURA RUPP
Affiliation:
Department of English Language and Culture, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, l.rupp@let.vu.nl

Abstract

This article examines grammatical conditioning of the use of nonstandard -s in expletive there sentences. The discussion is based on data from a Midlands variety of English (UK). In negative constructions, speakers tend to allow for nonstandard -s with no and constituent not, but not to use it with n't or clausal not. Further, nonstandard -s is admitted in declarative existentials, but disfavoured in interrogatives. By comparison, occurrences of nonstandard -s in nonexistential structures did not seem to demonstrate these constraints. Investigating such constraints is instructive in several respects. First, they help to identify the nature of nonstandard -s. Second, they provide new evidence for the generative inquiry into issues relating to subject–verb agreement. Third, they delimit variable contexts for variationist analyses. In this way generative and variationist objectives meet. I will argue that researching syntactic variation necessitates combining generative and variationist methodology.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Cambridge University Press 2005

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Footnotes

I am particularly grateful to two anonymous ELL reviewers and the audience at the 4th UK Language Variation and Change conference (2003, University of Sheffield) for constructive comments and helpful suggestions.