On The Syntax Of So-Called Focus Particles In German – A Reply To Büring And Hartmann 2001

Abstract.In this paper I take issue with the ‘adverb-only’ theory proposed by Büring and Hartmann [Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 19 (2001) 229–281] for German focus particles (=FPs). Concentrating on the syntactic aspects, I argue (i) that both versions of this theory incorrectly delimit the FP adjunction sites, (ii) that it crucially depends on a Closeness condition that is spurious, (iii) that the central ‘(no) reconstruction’ argument does support a distinctive trait of the adverb-only theory but also supports the ‘mixed’ theory which it was designed to eliminate, and (iv) that postposed FPs are not covered at all. The resulting picture suggests that a more modular account is needed, but is as yet unfeasible until the many descriptive gaps concerning the crucial FP occurrence restrictions are closed.