Specific and epistemic indefinites in Latin

Abstract

This chapter introduces and motivates the research topics. The centrality of indefinite pronouns and determiners for a number of theoretical questions concerning the grammar of nominal phrases is discussed, and it is argued that a diachronic analysis may help shed light on some of the categories involved. The comparative study of diachronies, which is approached by analyzing the historical processes that took place from Latin to the Romance languages, promises to disclose new perspectives on the determinants of variation. At the same time, the phenomena observed in the empirical domain of indefinites are strong indicators of the fact that change at the syntax-semantics interface also proceeds systematically and follows recurrent patterns, as has been shown for phonological and syntactic change. The chapter discusses which challenges we face in this respect, and what can be gained when the theoretical analysis of variation is combined with the investigation of the diachronic dimension.