J 2024

“Please” and “I ask, I request” in Liber vitae patrum

MIKULOVÁ, Jana

Basic information

Original name

“Please” and “I ask, I request” in Liber vitae patrum

Name in Czech

"Prosím" v Liber vitae patrum

Edition

Graeco-Latina Brunensia, Brno, Masarykova Universita, 2024, 1803-7402

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

60202 Specific languages

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/24:00136343

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-85197645535

Keywords (in Czech)

dignari; digneris; zdvořilost; pozdní latina; Řehoř z Tours

Keywords in English

dignari; digneris; politeness; late Latin; Gregory of Tours

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Changed: 2/1/2025 16:05, doc. Mgr. Jana Mikulová, Ph.D.

Abstract

In the original language

This paper examines the use of performative verbs meaning “I beg, I ask” and pragmatic markers meaning “please” in the 6th-century Liber vitae patrum by Gregory of Tours. It discusses the frequency of each verb and the possible factors that may have influenced its selection, such as imitation of previous authors, the social status of the communication agents, the requested things, and any difficulty in fulfilling the request. For example, the fact that the highest frequency was found for quaeso (which was perceived as an archaism already in Cicero’s time) suggests that Gregory followed the model of learned men from the 4th and 5th centuries CE who “resuscitated” this verb after its decline in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. The paper also examines other additional devices, such as a formula with digneris, and forms of address.

Links

MUNI/A/1531/2023, interní kód MU
Name: Antické civilizace a jejich jazyky v dalším evropském vývoji: proměny a konstanty podruhé
Investor: Masaryk University, Ancient civilizations and their languages in the European development: changes and constants revisited