The insubordination of if- and that-clauses from archaic to post-classical Greek : a diachronic constructional typology

This paper provides the first systematic investigation of the role of insubordination, the diachronic conventionalization of formally subordinate clauses as main clauses, in the syntax and semantics of the Ancient Greek sentence. Since diachronic studies are still a desideratum, this paper details the insubordination of if- and that-clauses from Archaic to Post-Classical Greek. Firstly, a principled diachronic analysis of the insubordination of various if-wishes (with epsilon iota, epsilon iota/alpha iota gamma alpha rho and epsilon iota theta epsilon/alpha iota theta epsilon (gamma alpha rho)) and that-wishes (with omega sigma and iota nu alpha) is performed using both functional (discursive vs syntactic independence) and formal criteria (vocatives, particles, sentence complexity, mood extensions) in order to determine their relative degree of conventionalization of the main clause use. Subsequently, insubordinate directive, assertive and evaluative constructions (with epsilon iota, epsilon alpha nu, omicron pi omega sigma and iota nu alpha) from Archaic, Classical and Post-Classical Greek are analysed before presenting a diachronic constructional typology of insubordination and suggestions for future avenues of research.

Jaar van publicatie:2021

Toegankelijkheid:Open