Gjuhësi Ballkanike

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Chapter IX
The Replacing of the Infinitive
The replacing of the infinitive in the Balkan languages has been rightfully acknowledged as a
common trait of these languages.(1). The infinitive is generally acknowledged to have
developed as a verbal category not only in the I.E. languages, but also in other linguistic
families. It has had a different development in various I.E. languages both from the formal and
functional point of view.(2). One cannot, however, help acknowledging that the infinitive in
these languages has, in general, acquired some essential features which clearly distinguish it
from the other finite and infinite forms of the verb. It is the representative form of the verb and
among its functions should be included those of the subject, object and predicative. Despite its
nominal origin, it has been fully integrated into the verbal system having acquired
morphological categories and syntactic functions which are characteristic of the verb.(2-3). The
tendency to create the infinitive should have originated since an early stage, but the
eccomplishment of that tendency dates surely from a period, when the various I.E. languages
had already begun the long process of their parallel evolution.(4). In several languages the
infinitive is, in numerous cases, preceded by a preposition, which has gradually lost its meaning,
thus becoming an integral part of the infinitive (cp. English to go etc.). The use of prepositions
before the infinitive demonstrates, at the same time, its insufficiency to express all the various
functional nuances, with which it has been used during the historical evolution of the various
I.E. languages.(5).
The replacing of the infinitive in such a developed language as Greek is an unexpected
phenomenon. Nevertheless, Greek has replaced it since relatively early times by the subjunctive
preceded by ina/na.(60). The same phenomenon has taken place also in Bulgarian-Macedonian,
in which the infinitive has been replaced by the indicative present, preceded by da, after the XI-
XII centuries. Such a phenomenon is encountered also in some southern Serbo-Croatian subdialects.(7).
In Rumanian, too, the infinitive has been generally replaced by the subjunctive
preceded by sЈ, particularly in the southern dialects. This process should have begun there since
before the XVI century.(8). But, in the meantime, in Rumanian, as in Albanian (see && 11,13),
an opposite phenomenon has taken place, i.e. the coining of the non-finite forms of the type
de/pentru fЈcut.(9).
As far as Albanian is concerned. several scholars have affirmed the existence of a former
synthetic infinitive, but some others have not admitted such an affirmation.(10). Both of these
opinions have not been duly argued. In such circumstances, one cannot give a clear-cut answer
to the question whether Albanian has ever had a synthetic infinitive similar to those of the other
I.E. languages. On the other hand, it would be difficult to explain the coining of the non-finite
forms of the type me ba and për të bërë in Albanian at a period, when the infinitive in the other
Balkan languages was being replaced.(11).
The non-finite form of the type me ba, fulfilling infinitive functions, has been coined by the
grammaticalization of a word group formed by a preposition and a verbal noun. Such a
grammaticalization should have taken place early, before the contacts of Albanian with the
Balkan Slavish languages. This non-finite form is not used in the southern dialect, but some
scholars think that it has existed formerly in that dialect, too.(12). After the XVI century both
Albanian dialects have developed the non-finite form of the type për të ba/për të bërë fulfilling
most of the infinitive functions.(13). In such circumstances, one may suppose that the sense of
the infinitive should not have been unknown to the forefathers of present-day Albanians.
Otherwise, one should presume that Albanian has developed two non-finite verbal forms during
a period, in which the other Balkan languages were replacing the infinitive. From these two
hypotheses the first seems to be more probable. In such a case one should admit that the
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