The impact of contact languages on the grammaticalization of the Modern Hebrew superlative

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Abstract

Modern Hebrew grammatical constructions include a tripartite paradigm of degree comparison consisting of the positive adjective, the comparative, and the superlative. Such a paradigm did not exist in classical Hebrew, and the expression of the superlative in both Biblical Hebrew and Rabbinic Hebrew required reference to a comparison class by means of a noun. Based on an examination of textual evidence from the initial phases of the formation of Modern Hebrew, this article traces the emergence of the modern superlative constructions and evaluates the role of contact languages in the process.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLanguage Contact and the Development of Modern Hebrew
EditorsEdit Doron
PublisherBrill Academic Publishers
Pages269-280
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9789004302006
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Publication series

NameStudies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics
Volume84

Keywords

  • Adjective degree comparison
  • Grammaticalization
  • Language contact
  • Revival of Hebrew
  • Superlative

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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