The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters
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Yoko Iyeiri
Abstract
The present paper discusses the ordering of main and adverbial subordinate clauses in the fifteenth-century Paston letters and tests whether there is continuity between Middle English and Present-day English discourse organizations. The adverbial clauses investigated in the following discussion are those introduced by if, though (although), when, because (be cause), and till (until). It is known that in contemporary English, conditional clauses tend to precede the main clause, whereas causal clauses are likely to follow the main clause. Moreover, temporal clauses like when-clauses and till-clauses present intermediate situations, according to Diessel (2001, 2005). This is largely applicable to Middle English, but there are some additional features worthy of note in the Paston letters. The ordering between main and subordinate clauses seems to be conditioned by: (1) information structure, (2) the length of subordinate clauses, and (3) the juxtaposition of two subordinating conjunctions.
Abstract
The present paper discusses the ordering of main and adverbial subordinate clauses in the fifteenth-century Paston letters and tests whether there is continuity between Middle English and Present-day English discourse organizations. The adverbial clauses investigated in the following discussion are those introduced by if, though (although), when, because (be cause), and till (until). It is known that in contemporary English, conditional clauses tend to precede the main clause, whereas causal clauses are likely to follow the main clause. Moreover, temporal clauses like when-clauses and till-clauses present intermediate situations, according to Diessel (2001, 2005). This is largely applicable to Middle English, but there are some additional features worthy of note in the Paston letters. The ordering between main and subordinate clauses seems to be conditioned by: (1) information structure, (2) the length of subordinate clauses, and (3) the juxtaposition of two subordinating conjunctions.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
-
Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
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Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
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Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
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Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
-
Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
-
Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
-
Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
-
Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
