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Complex Noun Phrases in Latin. From Plautus to Humanism: Our investigation
of complex NPs in Latin aims to throw light on the use of discontinuous
versus continuous NPs. We investigate the following possible parameters
of distribution: chronology, style, genre, typology, and in particular,
a number of variational principles proposed in modern linguistics. We
have investigated 26 (extracts of) texts. Our results show that chronology is
not a relevant parameter of variation, as discontinuous NPs are found in the
entire period. Although the distinction between verse and prose is important,
it cannot explain the variations found. Modern parameters of variation
have turned out to be more relevant. Thus, the distinction of text types according
to the communication situation provides an interesting basis for the
evaluation of variation, and so does the variational model proposed by Söll
1985 and elaborated by Koch & Oesterreicher 1990. However, as this
model is conceived for modern languages, important differences in languages
used in older periods cannot be accounted for. One of the basic
principles in the variational model is the distinction between distance and
closeness of the communication situation. This distinction cannot be applied
to Latin without important modifications concening Classical conventions of
different text types.
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