Focus Adverbs and Discourse Markers: σχεδόν in the Ancient Greek Novel

Abstract

This paper describes the different uses of the adverb σχεδόν, which, from its original meaning as an expression of proximity, adopted, in the Classical Period, a focal use, as an approximative adverb, and another one as a discourse marker. In the novel, it functions above all as a focus adverb. When functioning as discourse marker, it works as a pragmatic operator.