From free relatives to indefinite pronouns in Basque, or how can anyone end up being someone

Ricardo Rikardo, R. Etxepare (1)

1 IKER - Centre de recherche sur la langue et les textes basques

After a short introduction to wh-based quantification in Basque, I will address a particular case of historically derived quantification. I will show that Basque existential indefinite pronouns have their origin in correlative protases. I will first present the available dialectal and historical record and claim that the existing variation can be accounted for if the proforms have their source in the protasis of correlative constructions. I discuss next the possible course of diachronic events, by trying to establish the successive steps in the light of the existing gaps in the paradigm of attested forms.

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société

Ricardo Rikardo, R. Etxepare. From free relatives to indefinite pronouns in Basque, or how can anyone end up being someone. Logical Vocabulary and Logical Change, In press. ⟨hal-03505652⟩