Constructionalization at Work: The Emergence of the Latin Progressive Present Participle / Gerund Construction

Authors

  • Jasper Vangaever Université de Lille (UMR 8163 STL); University of Ghent (Department of Linguistics); Sorbonne Université (EA STIH). Rue du Barreau BP 60149, 59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq (France)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2019.206

Abstract

In Latin, the present participle and the gerund frequently function as the predicate of an adjunct clause. Such clauses are syntactically dependent on a main clause, with which they form a bi-clausal construction. Under specific semantic and pragmatic circumstances, some of these constructions are interpreted based on a pragmatic inference: the main verb, which corresponds to a verb of existence, position, or movement, is deprived of its lexical meaning and acquires a grammatical function, viz. that of presenting the non-finite state of affairs as being in the middle of its realization. The repeated use and propagation of thusly interpreted constructions gave rise to a new construction, the progressive construction. I argue that the emergence of this construction corresponds to a constructionalization process, and that although this process has not been completed within Latin, many instances of the pattern [verb of existence/position/movement + present participle/gerund] instantiate a construction in its own right, viz. different from the bi-clausal construction that gave rise to it.

Keywords:

Latin, present participle, gerund, progressive construction, constructionalization, grammaticalization, Diachronic Construction Grammar

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Published

2020-01-22

How to Cite

Vangaever, J. (2020). Constructionalization at Work: The Emergence of the Latin Progressive Present Participle / Gerund Construction. Philologia Classica, 14(2), 249–266. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2019.206

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2019)

Section

Latinitas media et nova

License

Articles of "Philologia Classica" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.