Icelandic Reciprocal Fragment

[Nor23]

Icelandic uses a bipartite NP strategy: "hvor...annad" ('each...other'), where each part independently inflects for case. The first element "hvor" takes nominative (subject case), while "annad" takes the case assigned by the verb.

This is a bivalent strategy: the bipartite NP fills the object position, preserving transitivity. Formally distinct from the reflexive "sig".

[Nor23] ex. 17 (citing Hurst & Nordlinger 2021).

def Icelandic.Reciprocals.hvorAnnad : PersonalPronoun

hvor...annad — bipartite reciprocal NP 'each other'.

Each part inflects independently for case.

Equations

• Icelandic.Reciprocals.hvorAnnad = { form := "hvor...annad", person := some Person.third, number := some Number.plural }

def Icelandic.Reciprocals.sig : PersonalPronoun

sig — reflexive pronoun (for contrast).

Equations

• Icelandic.Reciprocals.sig = { form := "sig", person := some Person.third }

theorem Icelandic.Reciprocals.recip_distinct_from_reflexive : hvorAnnad.form ≠ sig.form

Icelandic reciprocal is formally distinct from reflexive.