Et cetera, eccetera, etc. The development of a general extender from Latin to Italian

Abstract

This paper discusses the range of functions of et cetera in Latin, as well as the multifunctionality and evolution of eccetera in Italian. Both forms pertain to the category of general extenders, i.e. markers whose main function is to ‘extend’ otherwise grammatically complete utterances. We will propose a qualitative analysis based on data from Latin, Old Italian, and contemporary written and spoken Italian. In particular, we will discuss the semantic-pragmatic expansion of et cetera and eccetera, highlighting how both expressions tend to develop intersubjective and procedural meanings in addition to their original functions. Moreover, since the original components of eccetera are by now blurred in contemporary Italian, we will show how recent developments allow its use in disjunctive contexts.

Category-building lists between grammar and interaction

“…However, the act of categorizing reality in a particular way is a potentially face-threatening act: this is why we have a number of cases where speakers do not produce a post-detailing component, in an attempt to avoid direct categorization; in these cases, speakers seem to prefer the use of vague expressions such as general extenders. Fiorentini (2018a) in fact proposes to link this "indirect" categorization to the pragmatic function of mitigation. On the other hand, we have cases, such as the ones discussed throughout this section, where the speakers do produce the post-detailing component in order to: (i) facilitate syntactic processing of a complex unit that might not be easily accessed as a list in online production, (ii) disambiguate between different possible interpretations of a list, (iii) mark the conclusion of their turn and ease turn-taking.…”