Common Ground Management and Causal Clauses in Latin Scientific Texts

This paper analyzes the use of quod, quia and quoniam clauses in three astronomical texts by different authors: Vitruvius, Seneca and Pliny the Elder. The three kinds of causal clauses are unevenly distributed in the texts. In the first part of the paper (paragraphs 3 to 6), I confirm that the difference in function between the three connectors ‒ as identified by previous studies on literary authors ‒ holds true in this corpus, stating in particular that the opposition between quoniam and quia in Pliny’s text is still valid. In the second part (paragraphs 7-8), I examine the different uses of causality by the three authors within the wider frame of the authors’ approach to the matter they deal with, drawing conclusions about how they manage to anchor difficult information into the readers’ background knowledge.

ISBN:978-84-7882-868-5

Jaar van publicatie:2021

Toegankelijkheid:Closed