The Origin and Function of the So-called “Correlative” in Classical Syriac

The Origin and Function of the So-called “Correlative” in Classical SyriacFolia OrientaliaSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference PortalThe National Endowment for the HumanitiesThe International Balzan Prize FoundationDavid A. Michelsoncbsc_adminRecord added to Zotero bycbsc_adminSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference Portalhttp://syriaca.org/cbss/NUI5T5BX/tei

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CREATED: This bibl record was autogenerated from a Zotero record.NaamaPat-ElThe Origin and Function of the So-called “Correlative” in Classical Syriachttp://syriaca.org/cbss/NUI5T5BXhttps://www.zotero.org/groups/a_comprehensive_bibliography_on_syriac_studies/items/NUI5T5BXhttps://www.zotero.org/groups/4861694/items/NUI5T5BXFolia Orientalia45-462009-201061-69One of the functions of the demonstrative in Syriac is the so-called ‘correlative’, i.e. a demonstrative redundantly standing before a relative clause, despite there being an overt nominal antecedent. The function of the demonstrative is said to 'emphasize' the relative particle (Costaz) or to relate somehow to the preceding head noun (Nöldeke, Goldenberg). Part of the problem assessing the function of this demonstrative is the common assumption that the position of the demonstrative in Syriac is either free or is N-Dem. (Avinery, Muraoka inter al.). In this paper I will argue that the word order of demonstratives in Syriac is Dem.-N. It will further be shown that the 'correlative' is used before attributes of definite nouns and functions as a definite article. Comparison to Neo-Aramaic will substantiate this analysis. Pat-El, Naama. “The Origin and Function of the So-Called ‘Correlative’ in Classical Syriac.” Folia Orientalia 45–46 (2010 2009): 61–69. Naama Pat-El, The Origin and Function of the So-Called ‘Correlative’ in Classical Syriac, Folia Orientalia 45–46 (2010 2009): 61–69.Classical SyriacSyriac languagegrammarpronoun