Can constructions be construed? A problem in medieval syntactical theory

Jan Pinborg
Summary

The syntactical theory of the Medieval speculative grammarians is based on the concept of syntactical features (modi significandi) and their interdependence. A construction is defined as a combination of two words by reason of at least one pair of corresponding syntactical features. This conception makes it difficult to account for constructions between compound constituents. The paper is an attempt to account for this phenomenon which involves the status of phrases and propositions and the possibility of syntactical features belonging to this kind of construct. Texts by Boethius of Dacia, Radulphus Brito and an Anonymus Norimbergensis are discussed. An appendix adds a summary description of the Anonymus Norimbergensis.

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