A change from a temporal distinction into an aspectual distinction in the paradigm of the French subjunctive - a process of grammaticalization

Kirsten Kragh

In modern French, an evolution is taking place in the subjunctive system, where the present subjunctive to a great extent is replacing the imperfect subjunctive. The empirical analyses of my PhD-dissertation indicate that the imperfect subjunctive is still to be found in narrative contexts in the literary language written by authors advocating conservative French linguistic norms, whereas in written direct speech, as well as in oral French, the imperfect subjunctive is gradually replaced by the present subjunctive.

                      A number of syntactic and lexical parameters appearing to affect the choice between the two forms have been included in my investigation. An overview of these parameters reveal the importance of the lexical value of the verb itself, the simple or composed form, grammatical person, frequency of the verb, and circumstances triggering the use of the subjunctive.

                      Is it possible to consider this development a process of grammaticalization? One could make the hypothesis that, due to a number of reanalyses, the temporal distinction in the subjunctive paradigm is abolished and replaced by a distinction between "unaccomplished" and "accomplished". The result would be the establishment of a new paradigm containing fewer forms, however implying a more complex system, the old forms of the present and passé composé subjunctive now describing "unaccomplished" and "accomplished" situations, respectively.  Like the present subjunctive, the old imperfect subjunctive will then have lost its temporal value, preserving only a stylistic value marking an elevated register.