COMMUNICATIVE STRUCTURE OF OLD GERMANIC SENTENCE

Tetiana M. Horodilova

Email:  t.horodilova@kubg.edu.ua

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3500-9430

PhD, Senior Lecturer

Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University

Isabella R. Buniyatova

Email:  i.buniiatova@kubg.edu.ua

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4286-6705

Doctor of Sciences (Linguistics), Full Professor

Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/StudLing2025.27.33-43

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ABSTRACT

The paper focuses on the communicative structure of the Old Germanic sentences, considering the genre-specific features of the texts in question. Special attention is paid to the arrangement of sentence constituents according to the communicative purpose of the delivered message. The particular emphasis is given to declarative sentences with the finite verb in the initial position (V1). Old Germanic syntax exhibits considerable variability in the arrangement of sentence elements, reflecting the SOV, SVO, and VSO patterns. This research explores the conditions for these syntactic arrangements in relation to the pragmatic aims of the sentence featuring an emphatically stressed, foregrounded finite verb. The paper argues that the information structure of an Old Germanic sentence is realized in terms of ‘topic’ and ‘focus’ within their pragmatic motivation. It should be noted that the vast bulk of Old Germanic texts belong to the religious genre and were created for didactic purposes. We propose that the motivation for using the V1 pattern is both pragmatic and syntactic. The initial position of the finite verb has several functional reasons, including its discursive function. Due to its didactic nature, religious prose opens a sentence with a clause that introduces a new message and logically emphasizes the focused idea. Furthermore, we hypothesize that V1 constructions indicate the mutual influence of grammar and discourse in the formation of syntax in Germanic languages.

Key words: Old Germanic syntax, Old English, Old High German, word order, religious discourse, V1 pattern, information structure.

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