German Word Order

Abstract

The idea that German word order is governed by more than one principle can be found in the works of linguists where two types of languages are distinguished. In the first type, the verb is modified by preceding, and in the second one by succeeding, elements (structures XV and VX respectively). German is on the way from the XV to the VX type. Thus, the existence of not only various but even contradictory principles have to be assumed for German word order.