Home Linguistics & Semiotics The paths of grammaticalization of North Slavonic connectors. An interface point of Slavonic, Greek and Latin
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The paths of grammaticalization of North Slavonic connectors. An interface point of Slavonic, Greek and Latin

  • Anna Kisiel and Piotr Sobotka
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Diachronic Slavonic Syntax
This chapter is in the book Diachronic Slavonic Syntax

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the historical development of Slavonic connectors derived from a preposition and a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. Pol. zatem ‘therefore, thus’ from za tym ‘behind this’. In the first, theoretical part, we discuss the features of prosentential markers such as Pol. to ‘this’ and their place in the structure of the utterance. In the second, analytical part, we concentrate on the degree of lexicalization of the discussed elements and the conditions for their grammaticalization and pragmaticalization. We argue that the connectors in question can be divided into two basic types: de dicto and de re. Originally, the pronoun in the de dicto connectors played the role of a prosentential pronoun, while that in de re connectors acted as an anaphorical pronoun; this difference has given rise to today’s distinction (albeit blurry) between linking particles and conjunctions. Linking particles based on the analyzed pattern developed much more productively in West Slavonic languages than in East Slavonic languages; we conjecture that this may be due to the influence of Latin on West Slavonic (rather than Greek on East Slavonic) as a liturgical source language.

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the historical development of Slavonic connectors derived from a preposition and a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. Pol. zatem ‘therefore, thus’ from za tym ‘behind this’. In the first, theoretical part, we discuss the features of prosentential markers such as Pol. to ‘this’ and their place in the structure of the utterance. In the second, analytical part, we concentrate on the degree of lexicalization of the discussed elements and the conditions for their grammaticalization and pragmaticalization. We argue that the connectors in question can be divided into two basic types: de dicto and de re. Originally, the pronoun in the de dicto connectors played the role of a prosentential pronoun, while that in de re connectors acted as an anaphorical pronoun; this difference has given rise to today’s distinction (albeit blurry) between linking particles and conjunctions. Linking particles based on the analyzed pattern developed much more productively in West Slavonic languages than in East Slavonic languages; we conjecture that this may be due to the influence of Latin on West Slavonic (rather than Greek on East Slavonic) as a liturgical source language.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Glossing IX
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Part I: The influence of Latin on Slavonic vernaculars
  7. The paths of grammaticalization of North Slavonic connectors. An interface point of Slavonic, Greek and Latin 11
  8. The influence of Latin on the syntax of Old Polish numerals 37
  9. The influence of the Latin Vulgate on the word order of pronominal enclitics in the 1st edition of the Old Czech Bible 53
  10. The accusativus cum infinitivo in 16th–19th century Croatian texts. Contact-induced and internally motivated syntactic change 81
  11. Relative coordination. Kateri-/koteri-relatives in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian 107
  12. Part II: The influence of Greek on Church Slavonic
  13. Blocking of syntactic constructions without Greek counterparts in Church Slavonic 133
  14. The article-like usage of the relative pronoun iže as an indicator of early Slavonic grammatical thinking 163
  15. Past tense usage in Old Russian performative formulae. A case study into the development of a written language of distance 179
  16. Part III: The influence of Latin on Church Slavonic
  17. When Church Slavonic meets Latin. Tradition vs. innovation 201
  18. Non-strict negative concord proper and languages in contact. Translating Latin into Croatian Church Slavonic and Greek into Old Church Slavonic 233
  19. Part IV: In lieu of a conclusion
  20. First attestations. An Old Church Slavonic sampler 255
  21. Index 303
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110651331-002

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Glossing IX
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Part I: The influence of Latin on Slavonic vernaculars
  7. The paths of grammaticalization of North Slavonic connectors. An interface point of Slavonic, Greek and Latin 11
  8. The influence of Latin on the syntax of Old Polish numerals 37
  9. The influence of the Latin Vulgate on the word order of pronominal enclitics in the 1st edition of the Old Czech Bible 53
  10. The accusativus cum infinitivo in 16th–19th century Croatian texts. Contact-induced and internally motivated syntactic change 81
  11. Relative coordination. Kateri-/koteri-relatives in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian 107
  12. Part II: The influence of Greek on Church Slavonic
  13. Blocking of syntactic constructions without Greek counterparts in Church Slavonic 133
  14. The article-like usage of the relative pronoun iže as an indicator of early Slavonic grammatical thinking 163
  15. Past tense usage in Old Russian performative formulae. A case study into the development of a written language of distance 179
  16. Part III: The influence of Latin on Church Slavonic
  17. When Church Slavonic meets Latin. Tradition vs. innovation 201
  18. Non-strict negative concord proper and languages in contact. Translating Latin into Croatian Church Slavonic and Greek into Old Church Slavonic 233
  19. Part IV: In lieu of a conclusion
  20. First attestations. An Old Church Slavonic sampler 255
  21. Index 303
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