Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
word order
Dutch translation:
woordvolgorde
Added to glossary by
Antoinette Verburg
Sep 2, 2006 17:33
17 yrs ago
English term
Italy
word order
English to Dutch
Other
Linguistics
syntax
I would appreciate your help for my research. My question is how you would translate the following:
"(Everyone will get mad) when/if I introduce John to Mary and not to Sandra".
In particular, is there any way you can place "John" right after "als"? Or does "ik" absolutely have to follow "als" directly?
Thanks!
"(Everyone will get mad) when/if I introduce John to Mary and not to Sandra".
In particular, is there any way you can place "John" right after "als"? Or does "ik" absolutely have to follow "als" directly?
Thanks!
Proposed translations
(Dutch)
| 4 +6 | woordvolgorde |
Antoinette Verburg
|
| 4 | woordvolgorde |
Joost Elshoff (X)
|
Proposed translations
+6
34 mins
Antoinette Verburg
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
Netherlands
2 MA degrees and 32 years of experience
Native in: Dutch 
Works in: English to Dutch, Dutch
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
woordvolgorde
'... when/if I introduce John to Mary and not to Sandra' =
'... als ik John (wel) aan Mary voorstel en niet aan Sandra'.
The only way to put the word 'John' right after 'als' is when you put this clause into the passive voice: 'als John (wel) door mij aan Mary wordt voorgesteld en niet aan Sandra'. This change of active to passive of course results in a slight change of meaning/emphasis.
'... als ik John (wel) aan Mary voorstel en niet aan Sandra'.
The only way to put the word 'John' right after 'als' is when you put this clause into the passive voice: 'als John (wel) door mij aan Mary wordt voorgesteld en niet aan Sandra'. This change of active to passive of course results in a slight change of meaning/emphasis.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ellen-Marian Panissières
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Henk Peelen
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Saskia Steur (X)
14 hrs
|
| agree |
Miet Ooms
14 hrs
|
| agree |
11thmuse
21 hrs
|
| agree |
leen lefever
16 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks!"
2 days 13 hrs
woordvolgorde
This has been studied extensively, concluding that most Romance languages have a less strict word order scheme then for example Dutch. Even so, in your example phrase "John, a Mary lo presenterò e a Sandra no" you overlook the fact that a clitic referent and a linguistic trace were used to anchor the word John in a postverbal position. You used a topic/focus-construction to front that noun.
General notions on Dutch word order vs. Romance word order (if we disregard French) state that Dutch responds to a VSO (verb, subject, object) order in subordinate clauses and that Romance languages respond to a SVO order (subject, verb, object).
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Note added at 2 days20 hrs (2006-09-05 14:16:15 GMT) Post-grading
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Well, you are right, I actually made a typo there. If you want I can consult the literature on this subject to give you a conclusive answer.
General notions on Dutch word order vs. Romance word order (if we disregard French) state that Dutch responds to a VSO (verb, subject, object) order in subordinate clauses and that Romance languages respond to a SVO order (subject, verb, object).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days20 hrs (2006-09-05 14:16:15 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Well, you are right, I actually made a typo there. If you want I can consult the literature on this subject to give you a conclusive answer.
Note from asker:
| Thank you. What you mention is partly what I am looking into. Of course Germanic languages have a stricter word order than Romance; what strikes me and needs to be explained is that Dutch seems to have a (non-clitic-resumed) Topic position available in main clauses but not in subordinates. At least not for arguments: I believe you can say "omdat *morgen* mijn zus trouwt, ben ik zojuist naar de kapper geweest". (I suppose you meant SOV, not VSO, when you referred to Dutch subordinate clauses) |
Discussion
Why is it advantageous to have "John" right after "als"?