On the competition between different types of VS word order after sentence-initial ainsi ‘so’

This article is about different types of Subject-Verb inversion (nominal, pronominal and complex inversion) in sentences introduced by ainsi ‘so, in this way’. We first make a distinction between four main interpretations: manner adverb ainsi, quotative ainsi, consecutive ainsi (expressing either an intentional or an unintentional consequence) and illustrative ainsi. On the basis of corpus research, we show that nominal inversion often (but not always) combines with the manner interpretation, whereas the predominant function of ainsi + pronominal/complex inversion is to introduce an example or a consequence of the preceding discourse context. The data contribute to the debate about the grammaticalization paths of ainsi in two ways: (i) the unintentional consequence interpretation is argued to be a ‘bridging context’, (ii) nominal inversion is argued to have influenced the transition from manner adverb to consecutive sentence adverb. Furthermore, given the preponderance of the illustrative interpretation, we argue that this under-researched interpretation be taken up in future analyses of ainsi and manner adverbs more in general.

Jaar van publicatie:2018

BOF-keylabel:ja

IOF-keylabel:ja

BOF-publication weight:0.5

CSS-citation score:1

Authors from:Higher Education

Toegankelijkheid:Open