Euskarazko bihurkarien historiaz: hizkuntza ukipena eta errepikapen gramatikalizazioa

Abstract

This study puts forward the hypothesis that the Basque reflexive buru construction arose by virtue of contact with medieval Latin, by means of the mechanism known as replica grammaticalization. According to this hypothesis, the process was triggered by anaphoric and reflexive uses of the word head in medieval Latin. The potential implications are addressed which this proposal may have for the history and reconstruction of Basque.