Selected Papers from the Fourteenth International ... - STIBA Malang
Selected Papers from the Fourteenth International ... - STIBA Malang
Selected Papers from the Fourteenth International ... - STIBA Malang
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136 Richard Ingham & Klean<strong>the</strong>s K. Grohmann<br />
Wisse (AW), and probably executed in <strong>the</strong> third quarter of <strong>the</strong> 14th century, which<br />
provides interesting evidence of <strong>the</strong> gradual nature of <strong>the</strong> change. After an initial<br />
quantified nominal, expletive subjects now tended to become overt where <strong>the</strong>y<br />
were left unexpressed (‘null expletive subject’) in <strong>the</strong> original:<br />
(21) a. And vi enchesuns beoþ. AR (M) 232<br />
b. Sex enchesuns þer beþ. AW (M) 232<br />
‘There are six reasons.’<br />
(22) a. Moni cunne riwle boeð. AR (M) 232<br />
b. Many dyvers reules þere ben. AW (M) 232<br />
‘There are many different rules.’<br />
However, existential clauses with initial PP adjuncts remain without an overt<br />
expletive in AW, as shown with three examples in (23)–(25):<br />
(23) a. To þe inre is neod wisdome AR (M) 180<br />
‘To <strong>the</strong> inner <strong>the</strong>re is a need for wisdom.’<br />
b. To þe utter temptaciouns is need patience AW (M) 180<br />
‘To <strong>the</strong> outer <strong>the</strong>re is a need for patience.’<br />
(24) a. & in everichon beoð vif ver. AR (M) 36<br />
b. In vchone of þise psalmes ben fyve verses. AW (M) 36<br />
‘(and) in each one <strong>the</strong>re are five verses.’<br />
(25) a. Vor iðisse wildernesse beoð monie vuele bestes. AR (M) 198<br />
‘For in this desert <strong>the</strong>re are many evil beasts.’<br />
b. In þis waie … ben yuel bestes many. AW (M) 198<br />
‘In this way … <strong>the</strong>re are many evil beasts.’<br />
The absence of an expletive after an adverbial PP remains noticeable in Trevisa’s<br />
Polychronicon, written in <strong>the</strong> 1380s, <strong>from</strong> which <strong>the</strong> following two instances<br />
are taken:<br />
(26) a. Aboute þat tyme in Gasquen was a woman departed and todeled vram <strong>the</strong><br />
nauel opward. Trevisa, Polychronicon MET 52, 4<br />
‘About that time in Gascony a woman was cut apart <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> navel up.’<br />
b. In þes Henry hys time was so gret strif in þe cherche of Rome.<br />
Trevisa, Polychronicon MET 136, 104<br />
‘In this Henry’s time <strong>the</strong>re was such great conflict in <strong>the</strong> church of Rome.’<br />
Thus <strong>the</strong> context in which we are arguing that a null expletive remained in Late<br />
Middle English – certainly as concerns <strong>the</strong> London Chronicles – is <strong>the</strong> one which<br />
exhibits a clear lag in developing an obligatory use of an overt expletive in <strong>the</strong> 14th<br />
century. The London Chronicles show that <strong>the</strong> null expletive subject option with<br />
initial adverbials continued into <strong>the</strong> late 15th century.