The aim of this paper is to discuss similarities between the Cypriot Turkish and the Cypriot Greek subjunctive/optative paradigm(s), to account for these similarities in terms of a theory of language contact, and to suggest an explanation for the similarities in the paradigms of the two dialects that can also account for the points of divergence from the respective standard languages. Modal complement clauses in Turkic languages are usually nominal infinitive constructions or, in very restricted instances, adverbial clauses of purpose with imperative-optative, while in some Turkic languages (Gagauz, some Azeri and Uzbek dialects, Karaim), as well as in several Turkish dialects (Balkan Turkish, Eastern Anatolian Turkish) the imperative-voluntative and the second person singular & plural optative are used in non-matrix clauses, following models of non-Turkic languages with which they are in contact. Cypriot Turkish is a Turkish variety which displays very regular use of this mixed paradigm to express various types of modality in complement clauses with a broad range of matrix verbs and nominal predicates as well as in some temporal clauses; moreover the paradigm is used for optative constructions in matrix clauses, as in Standard Turkish. Through the contrastive analysis of these different semantic and syntactic functions of the Cypriot Turkish in comparison with the Cypriot Greek subjunctive, the paper aims to show that Turkish Cypriot, like other Turkic varieties under strong syntactic influence from Indo-European languages, has introduced the “subjunctive” possibly through influence from Cypriot Greek, rather than from Standard Greek, where the use of the subjunctive is more restricted. The paper further discusses the various types of modality associated with the Cypriot Turkish ‘subjunctive’ and their Greek Cypriot parallels.

Is There a Common Cypriot Subjunctive?

KAPPLER, Matthias;
2015-01-01

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss similarities between the Cypriot Turkish and the Cypriot Greek subjunctive/optative paradigm(s), to account for these similarities in terms of a theory of language contact, and to suggest an explanation for the similarities in the paradigms of the two dialects that can also account for the points of divergence from the respective standard languages. Modal complement clauses in Turkic languages are usually nominal infinitive constructions or, in very restricted instances, adverbial clauses of purpose with imperative-optative, while in some Turkic languages (Gagauz, some Azeri and Uzbek dialects, Karaim), as well as in several Turkish dialects (Balkan Turkish, Eastern Anatolian Turkish) the imperative-voluntative and the second person singular & plural optative are used in non-matrix clauses, following models of non-Turkic languages with which they are in contact. Cypriot Turkish is a Turkish variety which displays very regular use of this mixed paradigm to express various types of modality in complement clauses with a broad range of matrix verbs and nominal predicates as well as in some temporal clauses; moreover the paradigm is used for optative constructions in matrix clauses, as in Standard Turkish. Through the contrastive analysis of these different semantic and syntactic functions of the Cypriot Turkish in comparison with the Cypriot Greek subjunctive, the paper aims to show that Turkish Cypriot, like other Turkic varieties under strong syntactic influence from Indo-European languages, has introduced the “subjunctive” possibly through influence from Cypriot Greek, rather than from Standard Greek, where the use of the subjunctive is more restricted. The paper further discusses the various types of modality associated with the Cypriot Turkish ‘subjunctive’ and their Greek Cypriot parallels.
2015
22
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/3664750
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