Grammaticalization of Adverbs in Ancient Greek: The Case of Homeric μάλα

Abstract

This paper investigates the grammaticalization path of the adverb μάλα in Homeric Greek, analyzing its semantic and syntactic functions across different contexts of use. Despite the fuzzy boundaries of the adverb category, the study identifies four readings of μάλα in the Iliad and the Odyssey within the perspective of subjectification theory (Traugott 1995a; 2008). Originating from the Indo-European *mel- ‘strong’, μάλα functions as: i) a manner adverb at the VP level, ii) a degree adverb modifying gradable verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and occasionally nouns and PPs, iii) an epistemic adverb indicating the speaker’s commitment to the truth of the utterance, and iv) a discourse-pragmatic marker with confirmative, adversative, or concessive functions. Data suggests that these functions emerge through grammaticalization involving scope increase and semantic-pragmatic shifts from lower to higher functional layers (cf. Hengeveld 1989). Initially modifying verbs compatible with its lexical semantics, μάλα expanded to new verb classes (hostclass expansion) (Himmelmann 2004: 32). After semantic bleaching, it extended to APs, AdvPs, NPs, and PPs as an intensifier (syntactic context expansion). Its usage further expanded to initial clause positions, co-occurring with discourse particles and conjunctions, expressing speaker attitudes and evolving into new pragmatic functions (semantic-pragmatic context expansion).