Between aspect and deixis: Vado in Classical Latin and the evolution of motion verbs

Abstract

In Cicero’s letters, vado is allegedly used as a synonym of eo. However, an analysis of vado in Classical Latin points rather to the fact that this verb displays distinctive features such as [ingressive] or [durative] and has a place of its own as a functional by-form of eo. Its role in Classical Latin can be fully understood only within the whole evolutionary framework of motion verbs, primarily eo and venio, where vado shows a specific profile in terms of lexical aspect and textual exploitation. Moreover, in a passage from Martial vado shows signs of keeping pace with eo in terms of deictic orientation.

Keywords

• lexical aspect
• ingressive
• durative
• deictic orientation