Noun Phrase Ellipsis in Middle Dutch

Abstract

This thesis describes and analyses Noun Phrase Ellipsis with adjectival and possessive remnants in Middle Dutch from the 13th and 14th century. For data collection Corpus Gysseling and Corpus Van Reenen - Mulder were used. After a description of the noun phrase in Modern and Middle Dutch several patterns of noun phrase ellipsis are analysed. It is found that Middle Dutch adjectives licenses pro which takes the position of the elided noun. Next, the development of the possessive pronoun is discussed. The occurrence of genitive adjuncts with demonstratives provides an argument for the analysis of possessive DP’s starting as a small clause. Through reanalysis the possessive pronoun is subsequently seen as an adjectival element to the noun. It cannot however license pro and a definite determiner must be introduced. A possible explanation is proposed and avenues for further research are given.