A Reinterpretation of the Bulgarian Particle си
A Reinterpretation of the Bulgarian Particle си

Summary/Abstract: The Bulgarian particle cu occurs both in ad-verbal position, as a verbal clitic, and as an element added to certain indefinite pronouns and adverbs. It is claimed that this particle has pragmatic meaning rather than lexical meaning, and that it serves as a mitigating device; that is, a linguistic means of softening the expected negative perlocutionary force of a speech act. More specifically, it serves to counter the expectations of the hearer, and this invariant meaning is present both in its ad-verbal and ad-pronominal use. Asyntactic test for distinguishing verbs with this particle from verbs with a lexicalised cu is suggested, and cases of lexicalised usage of the ad-pronominal cu are pointed out.

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