Subjective Predicative Attribute with Participle I in Gothic

Abstract

The article is concerned with providing a concise, yet complex linguistic description of the semantic, structural and stylistic characteristics of the subjective predicative attribute expressed by Participle I in the Gothic language. The use of Participle I and participial phrases with attributivepredicative function manifests their double syntactic functionality, inasmuch as they qualify both the subject and the predicate of the sentence. The syntactic meanings of the phrases in question are those of collateral action, circumstance of manner, time, cause and attribute proper. The constructions under study are extensively used in the text of Gothic Gospels. Most participles featuring the attributive-predicative function are derived from the verbs of motion, speaking, sense perception and mental activity. In context they assume a particular gender, number and case form, which is predominantly masculine nominative singular, in concordance with the subject, thus conveying the biblical focus on male characters and their actions. In most cases attributive-predicative participles are used single or in few-word constructions. However, when an extended phrase is built, they can manage all types of syntactic subordination, acting as the core of the entire syntactic group. The word order in such phrases is mainly free, with some patterns occurring more or less regularly, e.g. prepositive participle in subjectless sentences. Stylistically, attributive-predicative participial phrases do not enjoy any substantial occurrence in direct speech, performing an important stylistic function of marking bookish high-flown narration of sacred texts.

Keywords

• predicative attribute
• Participle I
• Gothic
• Germanic syntax
• syntactic subordination
• attributive-predicative function
• style-building means