Semasiological cyclicity in the evolution of discourse markers

Abstract

AbstractThis study addresses the evolution of the Sicilian discourse markermentrito explore the concept of cyclicity in semantic–pragmatic change. Stemming from Latindŭm ĭntĕrim(‘while, in the meantime’), the temporal conjunction develops – like its Romance cognates – an adversative function meaning ‘whereas’, which further evolves from an oppositional to a counter-expectational contrast value meaning ‘though’. The latter serves as a bridging context for the emergence of discourse-pragmatic uses and is examined below.Mentrievolves as discourse marker: formally, it gains greater syntactic and positional independence, and it increases in scope; functionally, it displays both textual and interpersonal values. In its overall path,mentrishows a cyclical change in respect to the adversative function: oppositional contrast emerges out of the temporal meaning, it then develops into counter-expectation, and it eventually fades into the discourse-pragmatic values. The rise ofmentrias a discourse marker is thus interpreted as a case of cyclicity from a semasiological perspective.