NULL SUBJECTS IN OLD GERMANIC LANGUAGES

Abstract

The article outlines the approaches to defining universal subjecthood properties from cognitive, generative, and functional perspectives. Three types of languages are distinguished according to the type of null subjects they allow – pro-drop, topic-drop, and discourse (radical)-drop. It is shown that phonologically unrealized subjects occur in Old Germanic languages and Modern Germanic vernaculars. Old Germanic null subjects are analyzed as for their syntactic distribution, relation to verb agreement, and person reference, which helps identify their similar and distinct features. The distribution of null subjects does not seem to depend on the richnessF of verbal inflection; third-person null subjects are registered more frequently than first- or second-person ones. Null subjects in main clauses are more numerous than those in subordinate clauses. Old Icelandic, demonstrates a higher frequency of unexpressed subjects in subordinate clauses.
Key words: Null subject, subjecthood, focal prominence, Germanic languages.