Are sentential particles semilexical categories?

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.31810/RSEL.49.2

Abstract

This paper proposes that sentential particles belong to the class of semi-lexical categories. Sentential particles are fixed forms derived from nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. They modify the sentence and contribute a pragmatic or discursive meaning. The hypothesis defended here is that sentential particles are semi-lexical because they are lexical words occupying a functional position related to the pragmatic layer of the sentence. This hypothesis explains that sentential particles share some properties with functional heads without losing all the properties of the lexical ones.

Keywords: sentential particles; interjections; semi-lexical category; exclamation; speech act layer.