The grammaticalization of nomə in the Eastern Abruzzese dialect Ortese
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Cinzia Russi
Abstract
This paper draws attention to the distribution and referential functions nomÉ™ in Ortonese, an Eastern Abruzzese dialect that, overall, remains relatively understudied. The analysis of original written and spoken data shows that in this dialect nomÉ™ appears to have reached a more advanced stage of grammaticalization compared to other Eastern Abruzzese dialects (such as Ariellese), given that this element (which has been characterized as an indefinite pronoun), can carry definite referential value and can co-occur with an explicit subject. In Ortonese, then, nomÉ™ appears to function as a third person plural verbal marker rather than as an (indefinite) pronominal element. With respect to the distribution and range of referential values of nomÉ™, Ortonese seems to differ considerably from the neighboring dialect Ariellese (D’Alessandro & Alexiadou 2006; D’Alessandro 2010) and, rather, it patterns with the Abruzzese dialects discussed in Manzini and Savoia (2005: 520ff.).
Abstract
This paper draws attention to the distribution and referential functions nomÉ™ in Ortonese, an Eastern Abruzzese dialect that, overall, remains relatively understudied. The analysis of original written and spoken data shows that in this dialect nomÉ™ appears to have reached a more advanced stage of grammaticalization compared to other Eastern Abruzzese dialects (such as Ariellese), given that this element (which has been characterized as an indefinite pronoun), can carry definite referential value and can co-occur with an explicit subject. In Ortonese, then, nomÉ™ appears to function as a third person plural verbal marker rather than as an (indefinite) pronominal element. With respect to the distribution and range of referential values of nomÉ™, Ortonese seems to differ considerably from the neighboring dialect Ariellese (D’Alessandro & Alexiadou 2006; D’Alessandro 2010) and, rather, it patterns with the Abruzzese dialects discussed in Manzini and Savoia (2005: 520ff.).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. General issues
- Acquisition Based and Usage Based Explanations of Grammaticalisation. An Integrative Approach 13
- Grammaticalization and Explanation 41
- The perfectivization of the English perfect 53
- Explaining language structure 67
- Toward a constructional framework for research on language change 87
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Part 2. Case studies
- Grammaticalization of Polish mental predicate prefixes 109
- More Thoughts on the Grammaticalization of Personal Pronouns 129
- The grammaticalization of nomə in the Eastern Abruzzese dialect Ortese 157
- The different developments of progressive aspect markers be in the middle/midst of and be in the process of V- ing 181
- Sequentiality in dialogue as a trigger for grammaticalization 203
- The final particle but in British English 235
- “Final hanging but” in American English 257
- Author index 287
- Subject index 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. General issues
- Acquisition Based and Usage Based Explanations of Grammaticalisation. An Integrative Approach 13
- Grammaticalization and Explanation 41
- The perfectivization of the English perfect 53
- Explaining language structure 67
- Toward a constructional framework for research on language change 87
-
Part 2. Case studies
- Grammaticalization of Polish mental predicate prefixes 109
- More Thoughts on the Grammaticalization of Personal Pronouns 129
- The grammaticalization of nomə in the Eastern Abruzzese dialect Ortese 157
- The different developments of progressive aspect markers be in the middle/midst of and be in the process of V- ing 181
- Sequentiality in dialogue as a trigger for grammaticalization 203
- The final particle but in British English 235
- “Final hanging but” in American English 257
- Author index 287
- Subject index 289
