Semantics of approximative particles in contemporary Italian

Abstract

In our paper we classify Italian approximative particles and describe their semantics. We define as «approximatives» all those modifiers that imply a certain degree of discrepancy between the speaker’s statement and the state of things it refers to. Approximatives are divided into two classes – limiting and graduating. We display their three main meanings: they imply a veracity assessment concerning the stated name, they imply the possibility of another name, they contain the seme ‘a little’. On the basis of its meanings and functions we define the semantic category of approximation as an autonomous category within linguistic system.

Lexicographic Portrait of the Italian Approximative Quasi and Its Synonyms

“…-property of the object: (21) Una porticina scura, quasi nera (Viani, 1975 The assessment of incompleteness is also expressed in the sentences that concern actions and processes such as: (23) Il rosso è quasi andato via (Guareschi, 2003, v. 3 In such cases, we deal again with some incompleteness of the described situation. In relation to actions and processes, approximators highlight the semantic feature of 'imperfect'.…”