Home Linguistics & Semiotics Latin syntax and Greek
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Latin syntax and Greek

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Volume 1 Syntax of the Sentence
This chapter is in the book Volume 1 Syntax of the Sentence
Gualtiero CalboliLatin syntax and Greek1.Introduction1.1 How extensive was the influence of Greek in Rome, and howimportant was Greek for Latin syntax?An answer to the question of the extent of the influence of Greek in Romehas been given by Kaimio (1979), so in my opinion, we must focus on thequestion of its importance for Latin syntax. We must start with a basic caveat:it is possible that a construction supposed to reflect Greek influence is ratheran independent development within Latin. Such a caveat has recently beenexpressed by Paolo Poccetti (1999: 112 [trans.P.B.&P.C.]):The evaluation of Greekinfluence on Latin syntax demands more cautionthan when one is dealing with the lexicon. With syntax, in fact, it becomeseven more difficult to distinguish the contribution of one language to anotherfrom that which has arisen independently from common ancestry, purportedparallel developments, and lastly from the results of a common interactiveprocess in the Greco-Roman environment . . . Consequently, it is necessary toreplace the general quantitative assessment and a more or less global visionof Greek influence on Latin, whether at the level of the literary language(Brenous) or at less controlled levels up to the emergent Romance languages(Bonfante 1960, 1967, 1983; Coseriu 1968, 1971) with a scalar approach tothe phenomena, in relation to the varieties, contexts, ages, individual choices,and textual realities (Löfstedt 1980 [the Italian version of Löfstedt 1959];Coleman 1975).Aside from the term “scalar” (scalarità), which presupposes a connection be-tween the different uses (though such a connection may or may not exist), Iagree that we must be careful in evaluating Graecisms and that we must con-sider the different periods and the individual authors who employed certainor supposed Graecisms.

Gualtiero CalboliLatin syntax and Greek1.Introduction1.1 How extensive was the influence of Greek in Rome, and howimportant was Greek for Latin syntax?An answer to the question of the extent of the influence of Greek in Romehas been given by Kaimio (1979), so in my opinion, we must focus on thequestion of its importance for Latin syntax. We must start with a basic caveat:it is possible that a construction supposed to reflect Greek influence is ratheran independent development within Latin. Such a caveat has recently beenexpressed by Paolo Poccetti (1999: 112 [trans.P.B.&P.C.]):The evaluation of Greekinfluence on Latin syntax demands more cautionthan when one is dealing with the lexicon. With syntax, in fact, it becomeseven more difficult to distinguish the contribution of one language to anotherfrom that which has arisen independently from common ancestry, purportedparallel developments, and lastly from the results of a common interactiveprocess in the Greco-Roman environment . . . Consequently, it is necessary toreplace the general quantitative assessment and a more or less global visionof Greek influence on Latin, whether at the level of the literary language(Brenous) or at less controlled levels up to the emergent Romance languages(Bonfante 1960, 1967, 1983; Coseriu 1968, 1971) with a scalar approach tothe phenomena, in relation to the varieties, contexts, ages, individual choices,and textual realities (Löfstedt 1980 [the Italian version of Löfstedt 1959];Coleman 1975).Aside from the term “scalar” (scalarità), which presupposes a connection be-tween the different uses (though such a connection may or may not exist), Iagree that we must be careful in evaluating Graecisms and that we must con-sider the different periods and the individual authors who employed certainor supposed Graecisms.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents vii
  3. List of abbreviations xix
  4. Prolegomena 1
  5. Syntax, sociolinguistics, and literary genres 19
  6. Latin syntax and Greek 65
  7. Semitic influence in the history of Latin syntax 195
  8. Word order 241
  9. Coherence, sentence modification, and sentence-part modification – the contribution of particles 317
  10. Coordination 443
  11. Questions and answers 489
  12. Backmatter 531
Readers are also interested in:
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110205626.65

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents vii
  3. List of abbreviations xix
  4. Prolegomena 1
  5. Syntax, sociolinguistics, and literary genres 19
  6. Latin syntax and Greek 65
  7. Semitic influence in the history of Latin syntax 195
  8. Word order 241
  9. Coherence, sentence modification, and sentence-part modification – the contribution of particles 317
  10. Coordination 443
  11. Questions and answers 489
  12. Backmatter 531
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 23.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110205626.65/html?lang=en&srsltid=AfmBOoq9BPs1gvEdYlgBdRi42P_d-UHS44XPM7a7hcjwaOlrY9WKYb8b
Scroll to top button