Italian -tore derivatives are agentive and instrumental nouns built on transitive and intransitive verbs. Their use as adjectives raises the issue of polyfunctionality, which we do not address here in synchronic terms of conversion, but in diachronic perspective. The analysis of Latin -tor derivatives shows that multiple uses and overlaps between the categories of noun, adjective, and verb reflect different levels of desententialization. Throughout the history of the Italian language, the increasing nominality of these formations leads to the loss of the predicative functions and to the development of a specialized agentive meaning.
A. Bisetto, E. Magni (2013). The Polisemy and Polyfunctionality of Italian -tore Derivatives: A Diachronic View. QUADERNI DI SEMANTICA, 34(1), 73-82.
The Polisemy and Polyfunctionality of Italian -tore Derivatives: A Diachronic View
BISETTO, ANTONIETTA;MAGNI, ELISABETTA
2013
Abstract
Italian -tore derivatives are agentive and instrumental nouns built on transitive and intransitive verbs. Their use as adjectives raises the issue of polyfunctionality, which we do not address here in synchronic terms of conversion, but in diachronic perspective. The analysis of Latin -tor derivatives shows that multiple uses and overlaps between the categories of noun, adjective, and verb reflect different levels of desententialization. Throughout the history of the Italian language, the increasing nominality of these formations leads to the loss of the predicative functions and to the development of a specialized agentive meaning.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
