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The Expression Of Progressive Aspect In Grico: Mapping Morphosyntactic Isoglosses In An Endangered Italo-Greek Variety

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pThis article investigates the expression of progressive aspect by means of verbal periphrases in the Italo‐Greek variety known as Grico, spoken in Salento (southern Italy). Building on the extremely valuable, yet out‐dated, description of Rohlfs (<jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#trps12118-bib-0082" />), we first present an overview of the array of different patterns brought to light by our recent fieldwork and through a survey of a selection of both early and contemporary sources which include combinations of (non‐)inflected STAND with (non‐)finite forms of a lexical verb, optionally linked by functional elements. After describing the empirical picture, we assess the degree of grammaticalization of the patterns which are still productive today, reconstructing their evolution from earlier periphrases and paying particular attention to the grammaticalization of the ambiguous element jats:italicpu</jats:italic> ‘where; from; that’. Finally, we analyse a hybrid structure currently consistently produced by semi‐speakers from different villages, which seems to instantiate a new ‘third’ option within the local repertoire. The article concludes with of a number of observations about the role of this case study for our knowledge of diatopic morphosyntactic microvariation in Grico and for the nature of language contact and language change.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

Greek language (Modern), syntax, aspect, Italy, Salento, progressive aspect, morphology, isogloss, language contact

Journal Title

Transactions of the Philological Society

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0079-1636
1467-968X

Volume Title

116

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2015-283)