Periphrasis and Inflexion in Diachrony: A View from Romance

This volume explores the complex relation between periphrasis and inflexion from a synchronic and diachronic perspective,drawing on data from across the Romance language family. It highlights the need for cooperation between syntax and morphology and discusses the patterns of change and variation observed in different dialects and languages. The analyses and conclusions presented have implications for linguistic theory more broadly.

Format: Hardback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This comprehensive volume brings together esteemed specialists in syntax and morphology to delve into the intricate interplay between periphrasis and inflexion, examining it from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives. The chapters draw upon a wealth of data from across the diverse Romance language family, encompassing standard and regional varieties, as well as dialects. The relationship between periphrasis and inflexion poses intriguing questions for both syntax and morphology, necessitating collaboration between these sub-fields. For instance, certain components used to express periphrases can be interrupted by other words, a phenomenon more common in syntax than morphology. In certain contexts, a periphrastic form may be semantically equivalent to a single-word inflected form, forming part of a paradigmatic set. Such patterns can be observed across Romance languages, albeit with notable regional variations. Furthermore, understanding these phenomena requires a diachronic perspective, and the rich historical documentation available for Romance enables an in-depth exploration of the changes and variations that have occurred over time. By studying these changes, we gain valuable insights into the development and nature of similar structures in other language families and contribute to the broader field of linguistic theory. While the empirical focus of this volume is on the Romance languages, the analyses and conclusions presented shed light on the broader development and characteristics of similar structures across language families.

Weight: 940g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198870807