Multi-part series in the function of the subject in Old Polish language

Abstract

This article contains a description of Old Polish series functioning as subjects in sentences, e.g A tako stała jest pod krzyżem matka Jezukrystowa, Maryja magdalena i święty Jan Ewanjelista. In terms of structure, semantic and grammatical features of their elements, as well as types of compound indicators, they resemble typical three-argument series (child and mother), however, they differ in the number of noun elements, which usually range from three to seven. Two types of lists are distinguished: homogenous, are organized around a single type of linking element or its equivalent in the form of a delimitation pause (e.g., aby mię od ciebie ani śmierć, ani żywot, ani żadna szczęsność od ciebie oddaliła), and heterogeneous, which may be linked more loosely or more closely (e.g., Gdyby raćce z przysiężniki i z pospólstwem uczynili wielkierz). List syntax was also described; very rarely it was exclusively ad sensum, more frequently, exclusively ad formam or in some cases, ad formam / ad sensum. The lists extracted here resemble modern serial subjects in terms of structure and syntax and, according to quantitative analyses, have a similar frequency in the oldest known Polish sentences.