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Part of
Different Slants on Grammaticalization
Edited by Sylvie Hancil and Vittorio Tantucci
[Studies in Language Companion Series 232] 2023
► pp. 104–123

Chapter 4
Tracking Jespersen’s cycle in Veronese and Bresciano

Diatopic variation in sentential negation

| University of Verona
| University of Graz

This article provides an insight in the expression of sentential negation in two Italo-Romance varieties, i.e., Bresciano and Veronese. The fieldwork data gathered in Lumezzane (BS), Brescia, San Giovanni Lupatoto (VR) and Nogara (VR) shows an intriguing range of variation. The Veronese peripheral data displays the particle mia (local form of mica) as a reinforcing negative element; central Bresciano shows a homogeneous pattern of postverbal negation, whereas in Lumezzanese the negative particle mia is completely grammaticalized. The general picture illustrates homogeneous negation patterns across the analysed structures, with all three stages of Jespersen’s cycle represented.

Keywords: Jespersen's cycle, sentential negation, Italo-Romance, Veronese, Bresciano
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1The expression of sentential negation: An introduction
    • 1.2Grammaticalization of mica in standard and local varieties
      • 1.2.1Mica in Modern and Old Italian
      • 1.2.2Mica in Italo-Romance varieties
  • 2.Methodology and research questions
  • 3.Data analysis
    • Indicative
    • Protasis
    • Imperatives
    • Subjunctive subordinates
  • Discussion and conclusion
  • Note to the glossing system
  • Notes
  • List of abbreviations
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 13 July 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.232.04tag
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