Minimality and embedded V2 in Scandinavian

The paper focuses on the syntactic and interpretive properties of subordinate clauses in Mainland Scandinavian and Icelandic. Assuming a cartographic CP structure (Rizzi 1997; Haegeman 2006, a.o.), the syntactic properties and distribution of embedded V2 in Scandinavian follow from restrictions imposed by information structure and are explained in light of relativized minimality. It is argued that the final interpretation each embedded clause receives is the result of the specific derivation of such a clause. It is proposed that embedded V2 and topicalization result from VtoFin and D-linking of a topic, which is an operator that A′-moves through Spec,FinP. The ungrammaticality of embedded topicalization and V2 in certain clauses (e.g. factive, Wh- or relative clauses) is explained as the result of minimal intervention effects with the operator that derives the clause and contributes to the interpretation of the sentence.