This contribution examines the evidential functions of four Latin verbs of memory: memini, recordor, reminiscor, and memoro. Drawing on a corpus of 55 texts from the 3rd century BCE to the 2nd century CE, particularly representative of the language of dialogue, 170 occurrences were identified in which these verbs encode memory as an evidential source of information. The analysis also shows that in such contexts the verbs may convey an epistemic meaning or be used to implement pragmatic strategies, contributing to the expression of linguistic politeness, the negotiation of social face, the shaping of narrative identity, and the facilitation of intersubjective alignment between speakers. These findings, which show significant parallels with later uses of verbs of memory in Italian, suggest that the expression of evidential and intersubjective functions is rooted in stable cognitive and communicative mechanisms. Overall, the study provides a foundation for future diachronic and cross-linguistic research on memory, evidentiality, and their semantic-pragmatic extensions.
Semantic and pragmatic functions of verbs of memory in Latin
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Abstract
This contribution examines the evidential functions of four Latin verbs of memory: memini, recordor, reminiscor, and memoro. Drawing on a corpus of 55 texts from the 3rd century BCE to the 2nd century CE, particularly representative of the language of dialogue, 170 occurrences were identified in which these verbs encode memory as an evidential source of information. The analysis also shows that in such contexts the verbs may convey an epistemic meaning or be used to implement pragmatic strategies, contributing to the expression of linguistic politeness, the negotiation of social face, the shaping of narrative identity, and the facilitation of intersubjective alignment between speakers. These findings, which show significant parallels with later uses of verbs of memory in Italian, suggest that the expression of evidential and intersubjective functions is rooted in stable cognitive and communicative mechanisms. Overall, the study provides a foundation for future diachronic and cross-linguistic research on memory, evidentiality, and their semantic-pragmatic extensions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
