Allora
-
Thomas Stolz
Abstract
The article addresses the issue of function-word borrowing from Italian into a number of languages spoken in Italy or neighbouring regions. Among the most frequently borrowed items, the discourse particle allora stands out as the most widespread Italian loan. The article explores the properties which make allora a prime candidate for being borrowed. The borrowability of allora is compared to two competing relative chronologies of function-word borrowing whose empirical basis does not contain evidence from language-contact situations with Italian. It is argued that the success story of allora calls for a partial revision of those models which ascribe particular importance to adversative conjunctions and discourse particles (translating English but and however) because the ubiquitous Italian discourse particle is a serious competitor for the role of prime mover in the chronology of function-word borrowing.
Abstract
The article addresses the issue of function-word borrowing from Italian into a number of languages spoken in Italy or neighbouring regions. Among the most frequently borrowed items, the discourse particle allora stands out as the most widespread Italian loan. The article explores the properties which make allora a prime candidate for being borrowed. The borrowability of allora is compared to two competing relative chronologies of function-word borrowing whose empirical basis does not contain evidence from language-contact situations with Italian. It is argued that the success story of allora calls for a partial revision of those models which ascribe particular importance to adversative conjunctions and discourse particles (translating English but and however) because the ubiquitous Italian discourse particle is a serious competitor for the role of prime mover in the chronology of function-word borrowing.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Connectivity as an object of linguistics 1
-
Aspects of language change and language acquisition
- Grammaticalization of converb constructions 21
- Contact, connectivity and language evolution 51
- Allora 75
- Some notes on the syntax–pragmatics interface in bilingual children 101
-
Pronouns, topics and subjects
- Distribution and function of clitic object pronouns in popular16th-18th century Greek narratives 139
- Nominative subjects of non-finite clauses in Hiberno-English 165
-
Finiteness in text and discourse
- Aspectotemporal connectivity in Turkic 187
- Connectivity by means of finite elements in monolingual and bilingual Turkish discourse 199
-
Subordination – coordination
- Alternative subordination strategies in Turkish 231
- Studying connectivity with the help of computer-readable corpora 259
- Discourse coordination in Turkish monolingual and Turkish-German bilingual children’s talk: işte 291
-
Adverbials, particles and constructions
- Modal adverbs as discourse markers 329
- „So, given this common theme...“ 345
- An utterance-transcending connector 367
- Between connectivity and modality 395
- Matrix constructions 419
- Language index 449
- Name index 451
- Subject index 457
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Connectivity as an object of linguistics 1
-
Aspects of language change and language acquisition
- Grammaticalization of converb constructions 21
- Contact, connectivity and language evolution 51
- Allora 75
- Some notes on the syntax–pragmatics interface in bilingual children 101
-
Pronouns, topics and subjects
- Distribution and function of clitic object pronouns in popular16th-18th century Greek narratives 139
- Nominative subjects of non-finite clauses in Hiberno-English 165
-
Finiteness in text and discourse
- Aspectotemporal connectivity in Turkic 187
- Connectivity by means of finite elements in monolingual and bilingual Turkish discourse 199
-
Subordination – coordination
- Alternative subordination strategies in Turkish 231
- Studying connectivity with the help of computer-readable corpora 259
- Discourse coordination in Turkish monolingual and Turkish-German bilingual children’s talk: işte 291
-
Adverbials, particles and constructions
- Modal adverbs as discourse markers 329
- „So, given this common theme...“ 345
- An utterance-transcending connector 367
- Between connectivity and modality 395
- Matrix constructions 419
- Language index 449
- Name index 451
- Subject index 457
