On the threefold typology of <i>Scheinsubjekte</i>

Abstract The first aim of our contribution is to revisit Brugmann’s (1917) tripartition of expletive subjects from the perspective of modern parametric theory, particularly with regard to the parametric values of [±Verb Second] (henceforth V2) and [±Null Subject] (henceforth NS). Karl Brugmann was the first scholar to address the phenomenon of expletive subjects in German, which he called Scheinsubjekte (‘apparent subjects’), from a syntactic point of view, distinguishing between a positional expletive on the one hand and impersonal subjects on the other. His distinction receives important confirmation when reconducted to the basic parameter values of [+ Verb Second] and [−Null Subject] that characterise German. The second aim of our contribution is to show that Brugmann’s typology is useful not only for German, but also for languages with different parametric choices, such as English [−V2; −NS] and Italian [−V2; +NS]. Furthermore, we aim to determine whether Brugmann’s typology of expletives also holds for minority languages like Cimbrian, and for Romance varieties such as Northern Italian dialects. As we will show, Cimbrian and the Northern Italian dialects not only confirm Brugmann’s tripartition of expletive subjects, but also allow for a fine-grained distinction between expletives related to the syntax of the finite verb, that is to the parameter [±V2], which involves the C-domain, and to those related to the syntax of the subject, that is to the parameter [±NS], which involves the T-domain.