Some observations on the Hungarian adverbial particle majd Cover Image

Some observations on the Hungarian adverbial particle majd
Some observations on the Hungarian adverbial particle majd

Author(s): Ferenc Kiefer
Subject(s): Semantics, Finno-Ugrian studies
Published by: Akadémiai Kiadó
Keywords: descriptive meaning; expressive meaning; referential function; delaying function; emphasis;

Summary/Abstract: The Hungarian particle majd has both a descriptive and an expressive meaning. Semantically it expresses futurity; at the same time it may also carry various pragmatic meanings, of which the most salient is the delaying function. The referential function of majd is foregrounded if it is the only element in the sentence with temporal meaning. It will be shown that there is also a parasitic use of majd in which case it can be omitted without loss of meaning. In some other cases the particle is used to reinforce the illocutionary meaning of the utterance.

  • Issue Year: 59/2012
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 427-438
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: English