ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G04-012 · ATLAS 259

Postfield (German clause structure)

The postfield, or Nachfeld, is the region following the right bracket in the topological model of German clause structure.

Part of the subject path Syntax and Grammar

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

G · Foundational concept R2 · Necessary foundation

Postfield is needed to describe extraposed material relative to the right bracket of the German clause. This topological model must not appear as a universal position shared by all languages.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

The postfield, or Nachfeld, is the region following the right bracket in the topological model of German clause structure. Relatively extensive constituents may occur there, reducing material inside the preceding bracket. The definition is structural, not simply “everything at the end”. Other right-peripheral expressions may be assigned to an outer field or a separate afterthought position. When the right bracket is not overtly filled, its analysis depends on the clause pattern. In the extraposition context, postfield therefore identifies a position without by itself deciding whether a transformational movement operation is required.

Movement of thought

1. Determine the clause pattern. 2. Identify the left and right brackets. 3. Delimit material following the right bracket. 4. Examine syntactic integration and prosody. 5. Justify postfield or outer-field assignment.

Scientific use case

Grammatical research can compare constituent length, clause type and information structure separately.

Example

In German “Sie hat angekündigt, dass sie später kommt”, the dass-clause follows angekündigt, the right member of the verbal bracket.

Counterexample

In German, a detached “die Nachbarin” (“the neighbour”) following a complete clause containing sie (“she”) is not automatically an ordinary postfield constituent.

Distinction

Distinguish the postfield from outer positions, afterthought, right dislocation and a particular movement analysis.

Effect on thought and perception

The model relates linear organisation to syntactic membership.

Resonance

The clausal bracket can close while a related thought still follows.

Provenance

Parallel corpus 98f0950771ae4662f291d2f15f5c51b6797f3c20ba458a68615cdb177002ea18; case-bounded source review accepted; human specialist review not claimed.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Postfield (German clause structure)“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G04-012. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-012

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-012

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