Juk and gi, and “particles” in contemporary Lithuanian: explaining language-particular elements in a cross-linguistic context

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Collection:
Mokslo publikacijos / Scientific publications
Document Type:
Straipsnis / Article
Language:
Anglų kalba / English
Title:
Juk and gi, and “particles” in contemporary Lithuanian: explaining language-particular elements in a cross-linguistic context
In the Journal:
Kalbotyra. 2019, t. 72, p. 58-86
Summary / Abstract:

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Bendros žinios; Bendrosios žinios; Diskurso dalelytės; Diskurso žymikliiai; Ilokucinė galia; Ilokucinė jėga; Lyginamieji konceptai; Neginčytinas informacijos žymėjimas; Neprieštaringas informacijos žymėjimas; Palyginamos kategorijos; Vokiečių kalba; Žinių pasidalijimas; Common ground; Comparative concepts; Discourse particles; German; Illocutionary force; Lithuanian; Shared knowledge; Uncontroversial information marking.

ENIn this paper, I propose to take a fresh look at the elements traditionally termed “particles” in descriptions of Lithuanian. I establish criteria that would allow one to come up with a meaningful classification of such elements, and argue for the descriptive languageparticular category of “sentence particles”. I then turn to the syntax and functions of juk and gi, two prominent elements of this category. In order to understand their functions better, I invoke cross-linguistic comparison. I demonstrate that the ideas expressed in the literature on the German particles doch and ja can also be applied to Lithuanian. All four particles exhibit a common meaning component, which I describe as framing the proposition as uncontroversial, but also significant differences. Finally, I provide a brief overview of similar categories in some neighboring and genealogically related languages, and introduce the general methodological and areal-typological dimension of the phenomenon. [From the publication]

DOI:
10.15388/Kalbotyra.2019.3
ISSN:
1392-1517
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Permalink:
https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/84188
Updated:
2020-12-17 20:20:58
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