Relative coordination. Kateri-/koteri-relatives in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian
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Barbara Sonnenhauser
Abstract
As compared to their contemporary varieties, 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian literary sources exhibit a larger range of relative clause constructions introduced by the interrogative-based pronouns kateri/koteri ‘which’. Systematising this variation promises to add to the debate on the typology of relativisation strategies and relative clause structures, and to allow for a closer understanding of the emergence of the relativising function for kateri/koteri (and cognates).
Focusing in particular on the structures that are marginal or even obsolete in the contemporary varieties, the argument put forth in this paper is that in times of a developing literacy with specific needs in terms of content and elaboration, Latin might have served as a model for kateri-/koteri-constructions in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian. More specifically, authors used language inherent means, i.e., interrogative pronouns of the type ‘which of two’, in new functions to adapt a structure available in Latin such as to meet particular genre-specific purposes. The fact that some of these structures went out of use with the diminishing role of the relevant genres illustrates how literary trends may coin functional and/or structural patterns that might appear marginal at first sight but are actually highly revealing for gaining insight into the processes that drive language contact and change.
Abstract
As compared to their contemporary varieties, 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian literary sources exhibit a larger range of relative clause constructions introduced by the interrogative-based pronouns kateri/koteri ‘which’. Systematising this variation promises to add to the debate on the typology of relativisation strategies and relative clause structures, and to allow for a closer understanding of the emergence of the relativising function for kateri/koteri (and cognates).
Focusing in particular on the structures that are marginal or even obsolete in the contemporary varieties, the argument put forth in this paper is that in times of a developing literacy with specific needs in terms of content and elaboration, Latin might have served as a model for kateri-/koteri-constructions in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian. More specifically, authors used language inherent means, i.e., interrogative pronouns of the type ‘which of two’, in new functions to adapt a structure available in Latin such as to meet particular genre-specific purposes. The fact that some of these structures went out of use with the diminishing role of the relevant genres illustrates how literary trends may coin functional and/or structural patterns that might appear marginal at first sight but are actually highly revealing for gaining insight into the processes that drive language contact and change.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Glossing IX
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: The influence of Latin on Slavonic vernaculars
- The paths of grammaticalization of North Slavonic connectors. An interface point of Slavonic, Greek and Latin 11
- The influence of Latin on the syntax of Old Polish numerals 37
- The influence of the Latin Vulgate on the word order of pronominal enclitics in the 1st edition of the Old Czech Bible 53
- The accusativus cum infinitivo in 16th–19th century Croatian texts. Contact-induced and internally motivated syntactic change 81
- Relative coordination. Kateri-/koteri-relatives in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian 107
-
Part II: The influence of Greek on Church Slavonic
- Blocking of syntactic constructions without Greek counterparts in Church Slavonic 133
- The article-like usage of the relative pronoun iže as an indicator of early Slavonic grammatical thinking 163
- Past tense usage in Old Russian performative formulae. A case study into the development of a written language of distance 179
-
Part III: The influence of Latin on Church Slavonic
- When Church Slavonic meets Latin. Tradition vs. innovation 201
- Non-strict negative concord proper and languages in contact. Translating Latin into Croatian Church Slavonic and Greek into Old Church Slavonic 233
-
Part IV: In lieu of a conclusion
- First attestations. An Old Church Slavonic sampler 255
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Glossing IX
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: The influence of Latin on Slavonic vernaculars
- The paths of grammaticalization of North Slavonic connectors. An interface point of Slavonic, Greek and Latin 11
- The influence of Latin on the syntax of Old Polish numerals 37
- The influence of the Latin Vulgate on the word order of pronominal enclitics in the 1st edition of the Old Czech Bible 53
- The accusativus cum infinitivo in 16th–19th century Croatian texts. Contact-induced and internally motivated syntactic change 81
- Relative coordination. Kateri-/koteri-relatives in 18th century Slovene and Kajkavian 107
-
Part II: The influence of Greek on Church Slavonic
- Blocking of syntactic constructions without Greek counterparts in Church Slavonic 133
- The article-like usage of the relative pronoun iže as an indicator of early Slavonic grammatical thinking 163
- Past tense usage in Old Russian performative formulae. A case study into the development of a written language of distance 179
-
Part III: The influence of Latin on Church Slavonic
- When Church Slavonic meets Latin. Tradition vs. innovation 201
- Non-strict negative concord proper and languages in contact. Translating Latin into Croatian Church Slavonic and Greek into Old Church Slavonic 233
-
Part IV: In lieu of a conclusion
- First attestations. An Old Church Slavonic sampler 255
- Index 303
