Parenthetical conditionals and insubordinate clauses in Ancient Greek: Protasis with βούλομαι (boúlomai) and (ἐ)θέλω (ethélō)

Abstract

The purpose of the article is an in-depth study of the pragmatic and textual functions of several conditional clauses of ancient Greek constructed with verbs meaning “to want”. As a prior step, six types of structures are identified applying Thetical Grammar concepts and the idea of insubordination: five of these are parenthetical, and one is insubordinate. The structures work in the domain of speaker/hearer interaction, the domain of text organisation—reformulators and exemplifiers—and the domain of expressing the speaker’s attitudes.