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Description:
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The book explores finely-grained distinctions in causal meaning, mostly from
a relevance-theoretic perspective. To increase the challenge of this double
task, i.e. a thorough as well as satisfactory account of cause and a detailed
assessment of the theoretical model employed to this end, the current study
involves an investigation carried out by way of contrasting the prototypical
causal exponents of Modern Greek subordination, i.e. 'epeiδi' and 'γiati;. In
addition, this objective is achieved in the methodological framework of
contrasting a range of contextual applications of the two connectives against
their translated versions in English, realizable by means of 'because'. Despite
first impressions, a closer observation of the wide range of applications of
these markers in the discourse of coherence relations illustrates divergences
in their distribution, which, in turn, are taken to highlight differing aspects of
causal interpretation. The proposal for the relevance-theoretic model
emanates from a reaction to an array of problems undermining traditional
tenets of pragmatic theory originating with Grice’s stance, but is also made in
response to the common practice in pragmatic research (since its origin) to
pay low regard for the contribution of typical causal markers to debates
aiming at the determination of the distinction that has been instrumental to
issues of cognition and pragmatic interpretation, i.e. propositional vs. non-
propositional meaning.
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