Filolog (Dec 2021)
FORMAL MARKERS OF COMPARATIVE IDIOMS IN MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN
Abstract
This paper deals with identifying relevant formal (structural) markers of comparative idioms in Middle High German. From the analysis of examples, it can be concluded that most of these idioms have a bicentric structure. The typical forms of bicentric comparative idioms in Middle High German are infinitival and adjectival phrases, and rarely even nominal and adverbial phrases. Monocentric comparative idioms in Middle High German are always subordinate clauses with subjunctive elements als and sam. In terms of comparative particles, the whole subclass is conservative. Comparative idioms in Middle High German do not show reduplication of the equative particles – the most important distinctive feature in contrast to free comparison. The nominal phrase within the secundum comparationis shows innovations of the Middle High German language: determinators and adjectival attributes are consequently in the left field. A smaller number of comparative idioms in Middle High German have the inversion of the primum and secundum comparationis, and show alliteration and homeoteleuton as well.
