Konstruowanie faktu historycznego. Rzecz o polskim {ba} na przestrzeni wieków
Constructing a historical fact. On the Polish {ba} throughout the centuries

Summary/Abstract: The main point of departure in historical interpretations of ba was its explication submitted by Maciej Grochowski – for the modern Polish language. The author of the article provides historical evidence showing that while a part of spoken evidence is consistent with the proposed explication, the rest of it is quite different. The different nature of the historical ba is marked by: 1. formal conditions (1.1 ba could appear in the initial position of an utterance, 1.2. it was possible to use a reduplicated form which is nowadays unacceptable); 2. semantic value: 2.1. ba was functioning as a meta-linguistic expression of disapproval towards the preceding utterance (today only as approval), 2.2. ba was used to urge, to rush, 2.3. ba was also a signal of various emotional states (astonishment, indignation, fear). A similar semantic space was occupied in the history of the Polish language by nu and ho, and in modern language by no. This reveals possible, but not compulsory paths of semantic changes.

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