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The influence of Latin on the syntax of Old Polish numerals

  • Agnieszka Słoboda
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Diachronic Slavonic Syntax
This chapter is in the book Diachronic Slavonic Syntax

Abstract

Unlike parts of speech that are characterised by distinct morpho- syntactic features, the class of numerals emerged very late in the development of Slavonic languages. Proto-Slavonic numerals represented different morphological classes - nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. The formation of this class in the early stages of the emerging Slavonic languages was influenced by many external and internal factors. The processes that formed a new morpho-syntactic category of numerals in Polish reflected specific syntactic tendencies: the semantic and formal categorisation, structurisation and the tendency of language autonomisation. The most important external factors are literacy and the influence of syntactic and morphological patterns from various foreign languages, mainly Latin, German and Czech. This article focuses on the impact of Latin on the syntax of numeral phrases in medieval Polish. We put forward the hypothesis that the presence of numeral phrases in Latin texts, being the base of translation for Polish writers, and the use of Latin in bilingual texts, influenced the syntactic structure of numeral phrases in the Polish language. Latin phrases with adjectival numerals caused the most critical change involving syntactic agreement. This is the first stage of a longer line of subsequent changes in the morphology and syntax of numerals in Polish.

Abstract

Unlike parts of speech that are characterised by distinct morpho- syntactic features, the class of numerals emerged very late in the development of Slavonic languages. Proto-Slavonic numerals represented different morphological classes - nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. The formation of this class in the early stages of the emerging Slavonic languages was influenced by many external and internal factors. The processes that formed a new morpho-syntactic category of numerals in Polish reflected specific syntactic tendencies: the semantic and formal categorisation, structurisation and the tendency of language autonomisation. The most important external factors are literacy and the influence of syntactic and morphological patterns from various foreign languages, mainly Latin, German and Czech. This article focuses on the impact of Latin on the syntax of numeral phrases in medieval Polish. We put forward the hypothesis that the presence of numeral phrases in Latin texts, being the base of translation for Polish writers, and the use of Latin in bilingual texts, influenced the syntactic structure of numeral phrases in the Polish language. Latin phrases with adjectival numerals caused the most critical change involving syntactic agreement. This is the first stage of a longer line of subsequent changes in the morphology and syntax of numerals in Polish.

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/10.1515/9783110651331-003

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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