The aim of this project is to explore the morphological and syntactic properties of non-finite verbal forms in certain ancient Indo-European languages and to show how current research on (non)finiteness may help to analyse data that were previously overlooked. This represents the innovative side of our proposal, which aims at integrating a traditional historical linguistics perspective with more recent theories.
In general, a finite verb form is fully specified with respect to all relevant categories namely voice, aspect, mood, tense, person, and number. In contrast, non-finite verb forms can be partially underspecified if some of the categories listed above are lacking (typically tense, person and number). Also, non-finite verb forms like infinitives, participles, verbal adjectives, verbal nouns and gerunds (or Latin gerundives) display ‘hybrid’ features and behaviour typical of at least two lexical classes, i.e., the verb, on the one hand, and the noun, adjective or adverb on the other.
While finite forms that constitute the core of the verbal paradigm pose no difficulties, problems may arise at the periphery of the class, for instance, when distinguishing between infinitives (usually treated as members of the verbal class in grammars) and verbal nouns or between participles and verbal adjectives. There is little doubt that the border between these classes may fluctuate in synchrony and diachrony, revealing an intricate interplay between morphology, syntax and semantics. In addition, category margins and less prototypical forms are particularly vulnerable to linguistic change because their uncertain status and multiple interpretations create instability and ambiguity. Observing the overlaps and conflicts between competing forms and structures can therefore cast a different light on the scalar nature of finiteness and the evolution of non-finite verbal forms.