Sicilian bì and the expression of mirativity
Abstract
The article deals with the expression of mirativity in Sicilian, taking into consideration the functions and developments of the discourse marker bì. Mirativity, i.e. the linguistic expression of surprise, is a category that is linked to the domain of modality insofar as it concerns the speaker’s attitude towards the proposition. The case of bì is analysed from both a synchronic and a diachronic perspective. First, it is shown that bì performs mainly a mirative function. Second, the evolution of the discourse marker is reconstructed, whereby the form evolves out of the imperative of the perception verb ‘to see’. This study allows for a general reflection on the concept of mirativity. Firstly, in diachronic terms, we can observe how the mirative function emerges within the discourse-pragmatic evolution of the discourse marker. Secondly, in general theoretical terms, the notion is discussed as a semantic category, performed and observed at various levels of a language
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