SYNTACTIC CHANGE IN GERMANIC ASPECTS OF LANGUAGE CHANGE IN GERMANIC WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO MIDDLE DUTCH -- Editorial page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Dedication -- PREFACE -- Table of contents -- CHAPTER 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1 What is meant by Middle Dutch? -- 1.2 A discussion of the texts chosen for study here -- 1.3 Justification for another study of Middle Dutch word order -- A. Different emphasis -- B. Different methodologies -- C. Different styles -- 1.4 Methodology -- 1.4.1 The problem of sampling -- 1.4.2 The question of grammaticality -- 1.4 3 The classification of clauses -- 1.4.4 Additional observations -- 1.4.5 Assigning clause types -- CHAPTER 2. RESULTS -- 2. Introduction -- 2.1 Main clauses -- 2.1.1 VSX order -- 2.1.2 SXV order -- 2.13 XSV order -- 2.1.4 Order in main clauses preceded by subordinate clauses -- 2.2 Subordinate Clauses -- 2.2.1 The classification of clauses-grammaticalization of subordinator -- 2.2.2 The function of 'want' -- 2.2.3 Clauses of manner and comparison -- 2.2.4 The formation of conjunctions -- 2 .3 Conjunct clauses -- 2.3.1 Some features of clause conjunction -- CHAPTER 3. EXBRACIATION IN MIDDLE DUTCH -- 3. Introduction -- 3.1 Method -- 3.2 Grammatical considerations -- 3.2.1 Clause type -- 3.2.2 Constituent type -- 3.3 Lexical considerations -- 3.3.1 Verbs of naming -- 3.3.2 Semantics of adverbial expressions -- 3.4 Functional considerations - and the factor of 'weight' -- 3.4.1 The length and complexity of constituents -- 3.4.2 The length of the clause -- 3.4.3 A functional account -- 3.5 Pragmatic considerations - new versus old information -- 3.5.1 Clause constituents -- 3.5.2 Clause types -- 3.5.3 From discourse to syntax- the brace -- 3.6 Why Did Exbraciation Decline?- sociolinguistic considerations -- 3.7 The order of the auxiliary and non-finite verb.

3.7.1 Rhythmic factors -- CHAPTER 4. TOPIC-PROMINENCE IN MIDDLE DUTCH -- 4. Introduction -- 4.1 Topic-versus subject-prominence -- 4.2 Characteristics of topic-prominence in Middle Dutch -- 4.2.1 Double-subjects and other topic-prominent structures -- 4.2.2 Surface coding of the topic -- 4.2.3 Gapping between unlike constituents -- 4.2.4 The rise of dummy subjects -- 4.2.4.1 Subjects in the accusative case -- 4.2.4.2 The decline of accusative subjects -- 4.2.5 The passive construction -- 4.3 The diachronic aspect -- 4.4 The rise of verb-second order -- 4.4.1. Obligatory personal pronoun subjects -- 4.4.2. Impersonal constructions -- 4.4.3. Indefinite pronoun subjects -- 4.4.4. Existential / presentative sentences -- 4.4.5. Extraposed sentential subjects -- 4.4.6 Lexical differences -- 4.4.7 Summary -- 4.5 Conclusion - The loss of topic-prominence -- CHAPTER 5. THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEGATION -- 5. Introduction -- 5.1 The negative construction in Middle Dutch -- 5.1.1 The single preverbal negato -- 5.1.2 Embracing negation -- 5.1.3 Single postverbal negation -- 5.2 Changes in the negative construction -- 5.2.1 Confusion between the negator and conjunction 'en' -- 5.2.2 Further data -- 5.3 Explanation for the facts of Dutch negation -- 5.3.1 The traditional explanation -- 5.3.2 Vennemann's proposal -- 5.3.3 An alternative proposal -- 5.3.4 Dialect differences -- 5.3 5 Another typological approach -- 5.4 Conclusion -- 5.5 The development of negation in other Germanic languages -- 5.6 The constituent status of the negative particle -- CHAPTER 6. CONCLUDING REMARKS -- 6. Introduction -- 6.1 The shift from pragmatic to grammatical word order -- 6.2 Why rigid word order? -- 6.2.1 Today's syntax is also yesterday pragmatics -- 6.3 Verb-second and attendant grammatical changes -- 6.3.1 Planned versus unplanned discourse -- 6.4 Summary.

APPENDIX 1. A SKETCH GRAMMAR OF MIDDLE DUTCH -- 1. The Sounds of Middle Dutch -- 1.1 The consonant inventory -- 1.2 The vowel inventory -- 2. Morphology -- 2.1 The articles (lidwoorden): -- 2.1.1 The definite article (het bepaald lidwoord) -- 2.1.2 The indefinite article (het onbepaald lidwoord) -- 2 .2 Pronouns (voornaamwoorden) -- 2.2.1 The interrogative pronouns (vragende voornaamwoorden) -- 2.2.2 The relative pronouns (betrekkelijke voornaamwoorden): -- 2.2.3 The demonstrative pronouns (aanwijzende voornaamwoorden): -- 2.2.4 Personal pronouns(persoonlijke voornaamwoorden): -- 2.2.5 Reflexive pronouns(wederkerende voornaamwoorden): -- 2.2.6 Possessive Pronouns(bezittelijke voornaamwoorden): -- 2.2.7 Indefinite pronouns (onbepaalde voornaamwoorden): -- 2.3 Adjectives (bijvoeglijke naamwoorden) : -- 2.4 Negation (ontkenning): -- 2.5 Nouns (zelfstandige naamwoorden): -- 2.6 The verbs (werkwoorden) : -- 2.6.1 Strong verbs -- 2.6.2 Weak verbs -- 3. Syntax -- 3.1 Cases (naamvallen) -- 3.1.1 Thenominative -- 3.1.2 The accusative -- 3.1.3 The genitive -- 3.1.4 The dative -- 4. Middle Dutch Grammars -- APPENDIX 2. TEXTS -- 1. Brabantish -- 2. HoIIandish -- 3. Additional Hollandish texts -- 4. Legal texts -- 5. Supplementary texts -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX.