A cognitive analysis of metrical irregularities in the 'Ὥσπερ ξένοι' book epigrams. (13th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boeten, Julie; Janse, Mark
• Is Part Of: Byzantine and modern Greek studies. Volume 42:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2018-03-13
• Subjects: Byzantine metre, -- Byzantine book epigrams, -- metrical irregularities, -- intonation units, -- 'principle of pairing'; Byzantine Empire -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Greece -- History -- 323-1453 -- Periodicals; Greece -- Periodicals; Byzantine Empire -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 949.5005
• DOI: 10.1017/byz.2017.18
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-0131

Abstract

Abstract : This article considers the variation in the metres of the 'ὥσπερ ξένοι' epigrams, collected in the Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams (DBBE). In its canonical form, these epigrams follow a dodecasyllabic metrical pattern. The seemingly unmetrical decasyllabic and decatetrasyllabic variants are explained from a cognitive-linguistic perspective as the pairing of different cola – 5+5 and 7+7 instead of the usual 7+5 or 5+7. From this perspective, cola can be equated with the cognitive 'idea' or 'intonation units' (IUs) used in ordinary speech.