Gram - SEAS

6
Clau se-internal morphological changes
6. 1 Introduction
Recognizing that there are some sporadic counterexamples, we turn now
to more specific instances of regularly recurring types of unidirectionality discussed
in the preceding chapter with a focus on the kinds of changes that typically
occur clause-internally. In the next chapter we consider cross-clause changes.
In the first part of this chapter we look in some detail at examples of "compacting"
- the fusing of erstwhile independent elements with each other, most
especially the development of clitics into inflections. This process is often called
"morphologization. ,,1 Then we look in some detail at examples of the development
of grammatical forms in two domains: that of the paradigm, and that of clause
structure, specifically subject and object marking. Finally we consider the "end"
of grammaticalization: loss.
6.2 Morphologization
In French and most other Romance languages adverbial formations such
as the following are found:
(I) lentement 'slowly'
fermement 'firmly'
doucement 'softly, sweetly' (Lausberg 1962: 1 11/1, 95-8)
For a large class of adjectives, a corresponding adverb is derived by adding the
adverbial suffix -ment to the feminine form, e.g., lent 'slow (masc.),' lente 'slow
(fern.),' lente-ment 'slowly.' This suffix was originally an autonomous word, Latin
mente 'mind + ablative case.' Its beginnings as an adverbial suffix are to be sought
in such phrases as clara mente 'with a clear mind.' However, it is no longer
restricted to psychological senses, but is a general adverb formative, as in:
(2) L'eau coule doucement. 'The water flows softly. '
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