(Non-)Ellipses in Dutch, English, and German: The case of because X

In this paper, we offer an analysis of the because X construction as non-elliptical structures. Beside English, Dutch, and German, similar constructions exist in a number of other languages as well.

Furthermore, there are also constructions, albeit formally similar and diachronically related to because X, that are ellipses because they can be reconstructed to a non-elliptical state.

In our paper, we want to address the question of where and how to draw the line between because X and the elliptical, formally similar constructions of the type. Focusing on the structural differences between ellipses and non-ellipses, we argue against analysing because X in Dutch, English, and German as elliptical. Our main arguments are threefold.

Firstly, if we expect elliptical structures to be easily reconstructed to their original non-elliptical state, occurrences of because X and its Dutch and German equivalents do not follow this rule as reconstruction appears to be either implausible or impossible in many cases. Secondly, traditionally because occurs followed by a clausec ontaining a finite verb.In the becauseX construction, however, verbs are in general very rare and if they occur, they tend to occur as participles or infinitives. Finally, the German because X construction behaves unexpectedly in terms of case assignment. Noun phrases appear in the nominative case instead of the expected accusative, dative or even genitive.