The Grammaticalization of Greek Particles: A Functional Discourse Grammar Approach

Particles usually show a wide range of meanings across different contexts,meanings that somehow seem to be connected to one another. This often complexpolysemy of particles does not appear out of thin air results from a series of diachronicsemantic extensions: a process of grammaticalization in which a particular sourcemeaning developed a number of novel meanings, eventually resulting in a polysemousnetwork or chain of related meanings. The semantic development of particles is not anentirely random process but shows a form of regularity. Following a hypothesis fromthe theoretical framework of Functional Discourse Grammar, I argue that the semanticdevelopment of Greek particles can be analyzed as a process of semantic–functionalscope increase; i.e. semantic change proceeds from a lower to a higher semantic–functional layer in the layered organization of grammar. In order to illustrate theprocess of scope increase, the development of two discourse particles,τοιandνυν, arediscussed. The particleτοιevolved successively from a personal pronoun referring to aparticipant in thestate–of–affairs, to a modifier at the layer of theproposition, and to aninterpersonal particle operating at the layer of theillocution. Finally, within the particlecombinationμέντοι, τοιcame to mark an adversative relation betweendiscourse acts.The particleνυνoriginated in a locative adverb modifying theepisode, developed intoan interpersonal attitudinal particle at the layer of theillocutionand into a discourse–structural particle, marking the transition to a newmovein the discourse. I furtherargue thatsemanticgrammaticalization (e.g. semantic bleaching, pragmaticalization,(inter)subjectification, scope increase) andformalgrammaticalization (e.g. increasedphonological erosion, increased bondedness) may take place independently from oneanother and advance at different speeds.