Rania Papadopoulou, George Xydopoulos

The Emergence of a New Case of Pre-Nominal NPs in Greek as a Result of Anglicisation

Introduction

The emergence of a new case of pre-nominal nps in greek as a result of anglicisation. Discover how Anglicisation shapes Greek grammar. This study analyzes the emergence of new pre-nominal noun phrases with English loanwords, comparing hybrid structures to indigenous forms.

Abstract

Nowadays the influence of English on Greek is rather strong. Influences are attested not only at the lexical level, but at the morphosyntactic level too. In this work we focus on the emergence of a new case of pre-modified NPs in Greek where the Noun is in a pre-nominal position as in English. The newly attested NPs have the form [NP UNINFLECTED N]. The pre-modifier is itself an NP headed by an uninflected loanword of English origin, either a brand name, an abbreviation, an English noun or adjective, and the head N, a Greek element, creating hybrid structures. In this study, we examine a sample of pre-nominal NPs found in Greek through the internet, TV, everyday communication, we get quantitative results for each structure through the Greek corpora of Sketch Engine, we compare the frequency of appearance of these structures to the indigenous equivalent Greek ones, aiming to determine whether these newly attested structures fall under the category of right headed [word word] compounds, loose compounds, appositive compounds, adjective phrases, or they constitute a new case of pre-nominal hybrid NPs that calque the equivalent English structures.  

Review

This study proposes to investigate a fascinating and increasingly relevant area within contact linguistics: the influence of English on Greek morphosyntax. Specifically, it focuses on the emergence of a novel pre-nominal noun phrase structure in Greek, which appears to be a direct result of Anglicisation. The authors identify a distinct pattern, described as [NP UNINFLECTED N], where a pre-modifier NP, often containing an uninflected English loanword (such as a brand name, abbreviation, noun, or adjective), precedes a Greek head noun. This creates intriguing hybrid structures, signaling a potentially significant shift from traditional Greek word order and inflectional patterns. To explore this phenomenon, the research outlines a robust methodological approach. Data will be collected from diverse sources, including internet discourse, television broadcasts, and everyday communication, ensuring a broad representation of contemporary Greek usage. Crucially, the study plans to employ quantitative analysis, leveraging Greek corpora via Sketch Engine, to determine the frequency of these novel structures. This will be complemented by a comparative analysis against indigenous Greek equivalents, providing a crucial baseline. The primary aim is to rigorously classify these newly attested structures, assessing whether they align with existing categories such as various types of compounds or adjective phrases, or indeed represent a distinct new case of pre-nominal hybrid NPs that directly calque English structures. The proposed study holds considerable promise for contributing significant insights into language contact, language change, and the dynamics of grammatical borrowing. By meticulously examining the emergence and nature of these hybrid pre-nominal NPs, the research will shed light on the mechanisms of morphosyntactic calquing and the extent to which English can reshape the structural properties of recipient languages like Greek. The findings are expected to be highly valuable for linguists interested in structural borrowing, contact-induced language evolution, and the ongoing process of Anglicisation in modern languages, offering a detailed empirical analysis of a specific and compelling case.

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