Mittelfeld (MF; literally, ‘mid-field’) is a handy, theory-neutral, descriptive term for addressing the non-peripheral portion of an OV-type clause, that is, a clause with a head-final VP. MF refers to what is in between the clause-initial C-position and the clause-final V-positions. MF phenomena are clause-internal phenomena since the left and the right boundaries belong to the same simple clause structure.

The MF core issues are (i) the serialization variation in the MF (scrambling) and (ii) the particular serialization options for pronouns at the beginning of the MF (in German) as a unique phenomenon that contrasts with scrambling of full DPs on the one hand and clitic placement on the other hand (in cliticizing languages).

MF phenomena are a challenge for the grammar theory (especially with respect to languages like German). Word order variation is optional, and descriptively, the syntactic behavior of MF elements is that of VP-internal elements. Mainstream grammar theory, however, models the MF of OV languages as a derivational continuation of a head-initial VP known from VO languages. Consequently, the MF is characterized as a derived head-final VP plus several functional layers above a basic head-initial VP and below C°. Movement (with hitherto unclear trigger conditions) is invoked for arriving at a head-final organization after starting from an English-like clause structure. However, central predictions of this approach are not fulfilled. The cumulative empirical evidence points into a different direction. Syntactic structures that successfully cover VO language structures do not straightforwardly cover OV. Head-final and head-initial structures seem to be alternative options, with collateral syntactic effects, that go well beyond mere serialization differences.