L'infinitif dans le dialecte grec du Pont Euxin
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Abstract
The introduction to this study examines the view that the disappearance
of the infinitive in Modern Greek puts the language at a serious disadvantage in comparison with the Ancient tongue. This disappearance was formerly credited to the influence of neighbouring races (Slavs, Albanians etc.), whereas
the correct interpretation is to be found through the study of the internal characteristics of the Greek language itself which show that the subjunctive, being more convenient in use than the ancient infinitive, naturally took its place. The grammatical types (—σ(ει)ναι, —είναι, —θήναι ή —θήν’, —τήναι,
—ηναι, —αναι, —έναι) of the Pontic dialect and the categories and tenses of
the verbs on which these infinitives depend are then examined. With regard to
the fact that the infinitive depends entirely on the past tense, doubts have been
expressed for a long time now. A basic doubt is expressed with regard to the form and use of the Pontic infinitive (=it comes from the ancient future, loses its future and takes on active aorist meaning, and then takes the passive aorist ending). Recent attempts by people born in the Pontus to prove the grammatical types given by Deffner are described and the results shown to be negative. This article gives the following explanation of the appearance of the infinitive in the Pontic dialect: On the one hand there were researchers (S. Ioannides, E. Kouses) who, though they boasted the ancient form of the dialect,
hardly referred at all to the existence of an infinitive. Furthermore, foreign
researchers (A. Semenov) remark the existence of infinitival types —νά γράφ’
and νά γράφ’κουμαι. On the other hand we have Deffner and researchers of
Pontic origin who accept his views (D. Oiconomides and especially A. A. Papadopoulos). We are shown, both by A. A. Papadopoulos himself and by
witnesses from among his close friends, that he used to correct whatever was
printed in the Άρχεϊον Πόντου, the periodical of the Board of Pontic Studies, which he directed until his death, according to his own views, and thus
left us a false impression of the infinitive in the Pontic dialect.
of the infinitive in Modern Greek puts the language at a serious disadvantage in comparison with the Ancient tongue. This disappearance was formerly credited to the influence of neighbouring races (Slavs, Albanians etc.), whereas
the correct interpretation is to be found through the study of the internal characteristics of the Greek language itself which show that the subjunctive, being more convenient in use than the ancient infinitive, naturally took its place. The grammatical types (—σ(ει)ναι, —είναι, —θήναι ή —θήν’, —τήναι,
—ηναι, —αναι, —έναι) of the Pontic dialect and the categories and tenses of
the verbs on which these infinitives depend are then examined. With regard to
the fact that the infinitive depends entirely on the past tense, doubts have been
expressed for a long time now. A basic doubt is expressed with regard to the form and use of the Pontic infinitive (=it comes from the ancient future, loses its future and takes on active aorist meaning, and then takes the passive aorist ending). Recent attempts by people born in the Pontus to prove the grammatical types given by Deffner are described and the results shown to be negative. This article gives the following explanation of the appearance of the infinitive in the Pontic dialect: On the one hand there were researchers (S. Ioannides, E. Kouses) who, though they boasted the ancient form of the dialect,
hardly referred at all to the existence of an infinitive. Furthermore, foreign
researchers (A. Semenov) remark the existence of infinitival types —νά γράφ’
and νά γράφ’κουμαι. On the other hand we have Deffner and researchers of
Pontic origin who accept his views (D. Oiconomides and especially A. A. Papadopoulos). We are shown, both by A. A. Papadopoulos himself and by
witnesses from among his close friends, that he used to correct whatever was
printed in the Άρχεϊον Πόντου, the periodical of the Board of Pontic Studies, which he directed until his death, according to his own views, and thus
left us a false impression of the infinitive in the Pontic dialect.
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