The expression of impersonals in Middle English

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
CAITLIN LIGHT ◽  
JOEL WALLENBERG
Keyword(s):  
Middle English ◽  
New Testament ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
Structural Function ◽  
Passive Construction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Germanic Languages

This article contributes to continuing work on the information structural function of passivization, and how quantitative changes in the implementation of a syntactic strategy may be tied in with the acquisition or loss of comparable strategies. Seoane (2006) outlines a proposal that suggests that the passive construction is used more extensively in English than in the other Germanic languages in order to compensate for the lack of unmarked object topicalization found in languages with verb-seconding (V2). We reconsider this hypothesis from a quantitative perspective and find that, upon further examination, the claim does not hold.We compare parallel New Testament translations along two dimensions: one set across three stages of historical English, and one set across three Germanic languages. We find that the reported change in the rate of passivization between stages of English, and between English and other Germanic languages, is in fact not directly related to the presence or absence of a V2 grammar, but rather due to the availability (or absence) of different strategies of forming impersonal clauses.The current article focuses in more detail on one of the findings of an ongoing study into phenomena linked to the change in passivization in English. While the New Testament translations provide evidence that the overall rate of passivization remains stable across the history of English in one context, we find, in contrast, a significant difference in the rate of passivization between three translations of the Rule of St Benedict. These translations represent an Old English (OE) translation and two Middle English (ME) translations: one Northern, and one Southern. The data reveal a dialect distinction in ME: the Northern translation passivizes at a significantly lower rate.Unlike the New Testament, which is primarily a narrative, the Rule of St Benedict text is written as a set of instructions, and passivization is primarily a strategy for expressing clauses in which no agent can be specified. We find that where the Southern translation of the Rule of St Benedict uses a passive, the Northern translation frequently expresses the same content via an active clause with impersonal man in the subject position. While clauses with impersonal man can be found in both the Northern ME and OE translations of this text, it is wholly absent from the Southern ME translation.This reveals a dialect difference in the ME period: the Southern dialect appears to entirely lack a historically attested strategy for forming impersonal clauses. This, in turn, becomes one factor leading to a rise in the rate of passivization, as passive clauses are used to compensate for the missing strategy.

scholarly journals The origin of the Northern Subject Rule: subject positions and verbal morphosyntax in older English

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
NYNKE DE HAAS ◽  
ANS VAN KEMENADE
Keyword(s):  
Middle English ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Subject Positions ◽  
Verb Forms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Peripheral Areas ◽  
Early English ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Syntactic Context

This article presents new evidence for the early history of the Northern Subject Rule in the form of an exhaustive corpus study of plural present-tense indicative verb forms in Northern and Northern Midlands early Middle English, analysed in relation to their syntactic context, including subject type and subject–verb adjacency. We show that variation between -∅/e/n and -s endings was conditioned by both subject type and adjacency in a core area around Yorkshire, whereas in more peripheral areas, the adjacency condition was weaker and often absent.We present an analysis of these facts in relation to the presence of multiple subject positions in early English, which we show contra earlier literature to be relevant for Northern English as well, We view -∅/e/n endings as ‘true’ agreement, which in the relevant dialects is limited to contexts with pronominal subjects in a high subject position, Spec,AgrSP; other forms of agreement (-s or -th) represent default inflection occurring elsewhere. This analysis supports the hypothesis that the NSR arose when the extant morphological variation in Northern Old English was reanalysed as an effect of pre-existing multiple subject positions.

scholarly journals Reassessing the semantic history of OE brēad / ME brēd

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
SARA M. PONS-SANZ
Keyword(s):  
Middle English ◽  
Considerable Extent ◽  
Traditional View ◽  
Viking Age ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
History Of ◽  
Semantic History ◽  
Germanic Languages

Our etymological understanding of PDE bread has been influenced, to a considerable extent, by Otto Jespersen's comment that ‘An Englishman cannot thrive or be ill or die without Scandinavian words; they are to the language what bread and eggs are to the daily fare.’ This article analyses the evidence behind the possibility that PDE bread might represent a Norse-derived semantic loan, i.e. that OE brēad acquired the meaning ‘bread’, which was more frequently expressed by OE hlāf, because of the influence of its Viking Age Norse cognate (cp. OIc brauð ‘bread’). On the basis of an in-depth study of the attestations of OE brēad and hlāf and their early Middle English reflexes, as well as the use of their cognates in various Germanic languages, the article challenges the traditional view that OE brēad originally meant ‘piece, morsel of bread’ and concludes that Norse influence is not needed in order to account for the semantic history of PDE bread.

The “To Comyng(e)” Construction in Wyclif

PMLA ◽  
1930 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie S. Irvine
Keyword(s):  
Middle English ◽  
New Testament ◽  
Verbal Form ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
History Of

One of the most noticeable characteristics of style in Wyclif's translation of the New Testament is his occasional use of a verbal form in -yng(e) preceded by to, as a rendering of a Latin future participle, as in Luke 9.44: for it is to comynge, that mannis sone be bitrayed in to the hondis of men = Filius enim hominis futurum est ut tradatur in manus hominum; Luke 13.9: And if it schal make fruyt, ellis in tyme to comynge thou schalt kitte it doun = et si quidem fecerit fructum: sin autem, in futurum succides eam. This construction is not found in Wyclif's original English works. It does occur, however, in other writings in Middle English; and since scholars have, thus far, been unable to agree as to its origin and classification, I have undertaken a detailed study of Wyclif's use of the idiom, with the hope that some further light may be thrown on its nature and origin. Before discussing Wyclif's use of the construction, however, it seems advisable to consider somewhat in detail the history of opinion on the problem.

Factor V Leiden Is Associated with Repeated and Recurrent Unexplained Fetal Losses

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0822-0824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvira Grandone ◽  
Maurizio Margaglione ◽  
Donatella Colaizzo ◽  
Marina d'Addedda ◽  
Giuseppe Cappucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Fetal Loss ◽  
Factor V Leiden ◽  
Factor V ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fv Leiden ◽  
Caucasian Women

SummaryActivated protein C resistance (APCR) is responsible for most cases of familial thrombosis. The factor V missense mutation Arg506>Gln (FV Leiden) has been recognized as the commonest cause of this condition. Recently, it has been suggested that APCR is associated with second trimester fetal loss. We investigated the distribution of FV Leiden in a sample (n = 43) of Caucasian women with a history of two or more unexplained fetal losses. A group (n = 118) of parous women with uneventful pregnancies from the same ethnical background served as control. We found the mutation in 7 cases (16.28%) and 5 controls (4.24%; p = 0.011). A statistically significant difference between women with only early fetal loss vs those with late events (p = 0.04) was observed. Our data demonstrate a strong association between FV Leiden and fetal loss. Furthermore, they indicate that late events are more common in these patients.

PCR-RFLP Detection od PAI-2 Gene Variants: Prevelence in Ethnic Groups and Disease Relationship in patients Undergoing corony Angiography

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0955-0958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole A Foy ◽  
Peter J Grant
Keyword(s):  
Gene Variants ◽  
Genotype Distribution ◽  
Pima Indians ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
History Of ◽  
Caucasian Patients ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Rflp Assay ◽  
Coronary Atheroma

SummaryPAI-2 is a fibrinolytic inhibitor produced predominantly by monocytes. Most PAI-2 is intracellular making study in clinical conditions difficult. Abnormalities in production may be associated with inflammation and fibrinolysis at sites of tissue damage such as the atherosclerotic plaque.PAI-2 gene variants have been described: variant A consists of Asn120, Asn404 and Ser413 and variant B consists of Asp120, Lys404 and Cys413. We designed a PCR-RFLP assay using primers spanning the region containing Asn/Lys404 and Ser/Cys413. Variant B contains an Mwol restriction site. We analysed 302 Pima Indians and 286 healthy Caucasian volunteers. To investigate relationships between genotype and vascular disease we analysed 333 Caucasian patients undergoing coronary angiography.Gene variant B was more common in the Pimas than in Caucasians (p <0.0001). There was no significant difference in genotype distribution between the volunteers and patients. In the patients there was no association between genotype and either a history of MI or extent of coronary atheroma.

LANGUAGE SYSTEM IN THE GENETIC LANGUAGE SCIENCE OF THE 70-s IN THE 19TH — BEGINNING OF THE 20TH cc.: O. POTEBNIA’S CONCEPT OF «QUANTITATIVE CHANGES OF CONSONANTS»

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (30) ◽  
pp. 152-165
Author(s):  
Viktoriia Sviatchenko
Keyword(s):  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Speech Stream ◽  
Language System ◽  
Slavic Languages ◽  
Language History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Systemic Nature

The article provides a thorough account on A. A. Potebnia’s views on the systemic nature of the language presented in his works on historical phonetics of the Eastern Slavic languages. The practical implementation of his ideas in this respect is studied. The comprehension of the systemic character of phonetic changes of the Khrakiv linguistic school representative has urged the search of their interrelations as well as the attempt to identify homogeneous phonetic laws that share a common cause and act in a certain period of the language history, which is emphasized by the author of the article. It is noted that A. A. Potebnia focused on consonant changes that took place in different conditions. The causes of phonetic laws mentioned in the article can not be reduced to the interaction of sounds in a speech stream, the material provided by A. A. Potebnia proves that they are to be found within the phonetic system itself. The author of the article shares the views of V. A. Glushchenko that Potebnia’s investigations embrace all phonetic laws in the history of the Eastern Slavic languages’ consonant systems. The relevance of Potebnia’s research on the systemic nature of the language that has retained their value for the linguistics of the XX — beginning of XXI century is identified.

Breastfeeding Training through Role-Play and Effects on Mother-infant Attachment Behaviours: A Randomised Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farokh Saljughi ◽  
Mitra Savabi-Esfahani ◽  
Shahnaz Kohan ◽  
Soheila Ehsanpour
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Employment ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Infant Attachment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Mother-infant attachment is an intimate, lasting and satisfying relationship that leads to better cognitive, emotional and social growth of the infant. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breastfeeding training by role-play on mother-infant attachment behaviours. This research was a randomised clinical trial (parallel design). Inclusion criteria were: no history of mental disorders; ability to read and write the Persian language to complete the questionnaire; no history of drug and tobacco intake in primigravida women. The sample comprised 100 pregnant women (in 2 groups), selected through simple random sampling at healthcare centres. The researcher reviewed prenatal care registries of selected healthcare centres and extracted the names of pregnant women in their early third trimester. The data were imported into randomisation software. The control group received routine breastfeeding training, while the intervention group received routine training together with training through role-play. The data collection tool was the Maternal Behaviour Inventory Questionnaire. Consequently 75 samples were analysed in SPSS16. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used to examine the difference between the two groups. Results showed that the mean score of mother-infant attachment one week after delivery was significantly higher in the intervention group in comparison to that in the control group (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in maternal age, age of marriage, neonatal gender, maternal employment and education, number of parity, and number of abortions (P>0.05). Since breastfeeding training through role-play could affect mother-infant attachment, it is suggested that this type of training should be provided for pregnant women to promote mother-infant attachment and exclusive breastfeeding.

Reading English Verse in Manuscript c.1350-c.1500

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Sawyer
Keyword(s):  
Middle English ◽  
Geoffrey Chaucer ◽  
English Poetry ◽  
John Lydgate ◽  
Thomas Hoccleve ◽  
New Methods ◽  
English Verse ◽  
Middle English Poetry ◽  
History Of ◽  
Bodies Of Evidence

This volume offers the first book-length history of reading for Middle English poetry. Drawing on evidence from more than 450 manuscripts, it examines readers’ choices of material, their movements into and through books, their physical handling of poetry, and their attitudes to rhyme. It provides new knowledge about the poems of known writers such as Geoffrey Chaucer, John Lydgate, and Thomas Hoccleve by examining their transmission and reception together with a much larger mass of anonymous English poetry, including the most successful English poem before print, The Prick of Conscience. The evidence considered ranges from the weights and shapes of manuscripts to the intricate details of different stanza forms, and the chapters develop new methods which bring such seemingly disparate bodies of evidence into productive conversation with each other. Ultimately, this book shows how the reading of English verse in this period was bound up with a set of habitual but pervasive formalist concerns, which were negotiated through the layered agencies of poets, book producers, and other readers.

Cardiac transthyretin wild-type amyloidosis (ATTRwt): a prospective study of 400 patients followed at the Italian referral center

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Milani ◽  
L Obici ◽  
R Mussinelli ◽  
M Basset ◽  
G Manfrinato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Troponin I ◽  
Stage I ◽  
Stage Ii ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Staging Systems ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Cardiac wild type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis, formerly known as senile systemic amyloidosis, is an increasingly recognized, progressive, and fatal cardiomyopathy. Two biomarkers staging systems were proposed based on NT-proBNP (in both cases) and troponin or estimated glomerular filtration rate, that are able to predict survival in this population. The availability of novel effective treatments requires large studies to describe the natural history of the disease in different populations. Objective To describe the natural history of the disease in a large, prospective, national series. Methods Starting in 2007, we protocolized data collection in all the patients diagnosed at our center (n=400 up to 7/2019). Results The referrals to our center increased over time: 5 cases (1%) between 2007–2009, 33 (9%) in 2010–2012, 90 (22%) in 2013–2015 and 272 (68%) in 2016–2019. Median age was 76 years [interquartile range (IQR): 71–80 years] and 372 patients (93%) were males. One hundred and seventy-three (43%) had atrial fibrillation, 63 (15%) had a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and 64 (15%) underwent pacemaker or ICD implantation. NYHA class was I in 58 subjects (16%), II in 225 (63%) and III in 74 (21%). Median NT-proBNP was 3064 ng/L (IQR: 1817–5579 ng/L), troponin I 0.096 ng/mL (IQR: 0.063–0.158 ng/mL), eGFR 62 mL/min (IQR: 50–78 mL/min). Median IVS was 17 mm (IQR: 15–19 mm), PW 16 mm (IQR: 14–18 mm) and EF 53% (IQR: 45–57%). One-hundred and forty-eight subjects (37%) had a concomitant monoclonal component in serum and/or urine and/or an abnormal free light chain ratio. In these patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy or mass spectrometry. In 252 (63%) the diagnosis was based on bone scintigraphy. DNA analysis for amyloidogenic mutations in transthyretin and apolipoprotein A-I genes was negative in all subjects. The median survival of the whole cohort was 59 months. The Mayo Clinic staging based on NT-proBNP (cutoff: 3000 ng/L) and troponin I (cutoff: 0.1 ng/mL) discriminated 3 different groups [stage I: 131 (35%), stage II: 123 (32%) and stage III: 127 (33%)] with different survival between stage I and II (median 86 vs. 81 months, P=0.04) and between stage II and III (median 81 vs. 62 months, P&lt;0.001). The UK staging system (NT-proBNP 3000 ng/L and eGFR 45 mL/min), discriminated three groups [stage I: 170 (45%), stage II: 165 (43%) and stage III: 45 (12%)] with a significant difference in survival: between stage I and stage II (86 vs. 52 months, P&lt;0.001) and between stage II and stage III (median survival 52 vs. 33 months, P=0.045). Conclusions This is one of the largest series of patients with cardiac ATTRwt reported so far. Referrals and diagnoses increased exponentially in recent years, One-third of patients has a concomitant monoclonal gammopathy and needed tissue typing. Both the current staging systems offered good discrimination of staging and were validated in our independent cohort. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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