German embedded V2 clauses: A quasi-subordination account

The distributional restrictions on embedded root constructions form empirical and conceptual challenges to the subordination literature. This talk focuses on the non-standard embeddability profile of German embedded V2 (EV2) clauses (a.o., Gartner 2002, Truckenbrodt 2006) and argues for a Persp(ective)P(hrase) (a la Dayal 2025) analysis. I extend the Dayalian interrogative left periphery across another major clause type by proposing that the contrast between embedded V2 clauses and embedded dass-clauses boils down to a contrast between the declarative PerspP (PerspP_p; 1b) and CP (1c). The PerspP_p, merged as the extended projection of the clause-typing CP_[-Q], (i) anchors the embedded p to a perspectival center via PRO in Spec, PerspP_p, and (ii) introduces a not-at-issue requirement on the doxastic state of the perspectival center.

(1)

a. Matrix V2: ... [_PerspP PRO_i V2-position [_CP ... ] ]

b. Embedded dass-clause: [ [_MatrixCP John thinks [_EmbeddedCP dass ... V-final position ] ] ]

c. Embedded V2 clause: [ [_MatrixCP John_i thinks [_EmbPerspP PRO_i V2-position [_EmbCP ... ] ] ] ]