Genitives in the Greek nominal domain: parametric considerations

Abstract: This paper proposes an interpretation of certain syntactic patterns of the nominal domain in Greek, focusing on the distribution of at-tributive adjectives and genitive phrases, in a formal perspective essentially related to the Principles&Parameters framework. According to the recent proposals on the potential historical impact of the theory of syntactic parameters, I propose a description of a specific diachronic change in terms of parameter resetting, i.e. by means of a few, discrete operations involving reanalysis processes, independent of morphological change, and presumably related to external variation. The empirical analysis focuses on a minimal comparison between Classical Greek (the Attic variety of the 4th century BC, here represented by a sample of Plato’s works) and New Testament Greek (that displays almost the same patterns of genitival syntax as Modern Greek).