The Syntax of Early English - Cryptm.org

114 The syntax of early EnglishC-Verb-Second or asymmetric Verb-Second language:• first constituent in root clauses is in Spec,CP• no topicalization in non-root clauses, except in the complement of bridgeverbs• finite verb in root clauses in C; in non-root clauses in II-Verb-Second or symmetric Verb-Second language:• first constituent is in Spec,IP• topicalization more or less free in non-root clauses (Spec,IP is a topicposition)• finite verb in I in both root and non-root clausesLet us now consider the analysis of Old English in more detail.4.3.2 Verb-Second in Old EnglishThe core facts of Old English word order were discussed in section 4.2. Let ussee how they fit with analyses of Verb-Second as in section 4.3.1. There isample evidence for movement of the finite verb in all types of root clause inOld English. We repeat some of the examples here:(33) Se Hælend wear a gelomlice ætiwed his leornung-cnihtumthe Lord was then frequently shown his disciples (D)‘The Lord then frequently appeared to his disciples’ (ÆCHom I, 15.220.21)(34) On twam ingum hæfde God æs mannes sawle gegododin two things had God the man’s soul endowed‘With two things God had endowed man’s soul’ (ÆCHom I, 1.20.1)(35) hwi wolde God swa lytles inges him forwyrnan?why would God so small thing him deny‘why should God deny him such a small thing?’ (ÆCHom I, 1.14.2)(33) is a subject-initial sentence; (34) a topic-initial sentence; (35) a constituentquestion. (34) and (35) have subject–verb inversion. Clauses like (33), witha subject followed by the finite verb, are also found in non-root contexts, asobserved above:(36) Ac hie næron to an swie onbryrde. æt hi mihton swabut they not-were to that very excited that they could sobealdlice Godes geleafan bodianboldly God’s faith preach‘. . . that they could preach God’s faith so boldly’ (ÆCHom I, 16.232.23)Although these are clearly cases of V-movement, they are equally clearly notcases of Verb-Second in the sense we are discussing. A moved finite verb in