Ce dans les incises en français médiéval (12e s. -16e s.)

Abstract

This study explores the use of the item CE – translated variously in English by this, that or it – in medieval quotative frames. It investigates the gradual decrease in the attested occurrences of the item and proposes two hypothesis in order to explain it: i) CE may be considered a mark of orality contributing to the emphasis of the formal structures in medieval literary texts; ii) CE may be an empty form, residue of ancient constructions like those attested in sentences showing the same variation (CE/ Ø) during the medieval period – i.e. the complement clause, the sentential appositive relative clause, the adverbial clause. Thus, the study shows how an invariant term – CE – according to the different syntactic frames it applies, can be characterized by a « varying geometry ».

Keywords

• demonstrative pronouns
• quotative frame
• anaphor and anaphora
• cataphor and anaphora
• marks of orality